
























A PRINCETON BOY 
UNDER THE KING 












































“I’ll get even one of these days” 

w 


Page 53 











A Princeton Boy 
Under the King 


BY 


PAUL G. TOMLINSON 

I I 

AUTHOR OF “THE TRAIL OF TECUMSEH,” “THE STRANGE 
GRAY CANOE,” ETC. 


ILLUSTRATIONS BY 

LESLIE CRUMP 



NEW YORK 

DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY 
1921 


i 



\ 


Copyright 1921 

By DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY, Inc. 


/ 

V 





HI )t ©utitn Sc iBoben Companp 

BOOK MANUFACTURERS 
RAHWAY NEW JERSEY 

g)G!. A630128 




Ir 


PREFACE 


When Princeton boys lived under the king, the 
college was a very different institution from 
what it is at the present time. In 1756-1760 the 
period covered by this story the College of New 
Jersey boasted of only one building, Nassau 
Hall. Princeton University still boasts of 
Nassau Hall, but its students do not live there, 
eat there, and recite there as they did in colonial 
days. And the kind of lives led by college boys 
in that early period of American history were 
far removed from the doings of modern univer- 
sity students, although the boys themselves 
probably have not changed as much as their 
surroundings in the hundred and sixty-odd 
years that have elapsed since the College of 
New Jersey removed from Newark to Prince 
Town. In this story I have tried to pic- 
ture them as they lived and worked together in 
Nassau Hall under Presidents Aaron Burr, 


f 

f- 


V 


PREFACE 

Jonathan Edwards and Samuel Davies. For 
the historical facts I have depended upon orig- 
inal diaries, contemporary accounts, and his- 
tories of the college and the town. I have tried 
hard, however, to make the history subordinate 
to the story; in other words, to furnish history 
without the readers being entirely conscious of 
it. 

In a second volume I shall treat of Princeton 
during the War of the Revolution, when the 
town was the scene of hot fighting, and Nassau 
Hall for some months the seat of the Continen- 
tal Congress. In still other volumes I shall 
hope to picture successive periods of Prince- 
ton’s history until the present time is reached. 
My hope is to present in this way an outline of 
Princeton’s history, and the history of Prince- 
ton is inextricably entwined with the history of 
the United States of America. 

A Princeton boy who lived under the King 
would be a curiosity if he appeared on the 
campus to-day, but given the same opportun- 
ities as his descendants I am sure he would fur- 
nish them stiff competition on the athletic field. 
In the class-room his knowledge would not be as 
varied as theirs, but allowed to compete in the 


vi 


PEEFACE 

subjects he was taught he could put them to 
shame. 

Paul G. Tomlinson. 

Princeton, New Jersey, 

July, 1921. 


vii 


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CHAPTER 

CONTENTS 

PAGE 

I 

The Founding of Nassau Hall . 

1 

II 

President Aaron Burr 

14 

III 

The Start for Prince Town 

30 

IV 

At the Red Lion .... 

43 

V 

At Brunswick .... 

55 

VI 

Prince Town 

66 

VII 

A Poem 

79 

VHI 

Trouble Brewing .... 

94 

IX 

An Accusation . . 

110 

X 

By Stony Brook .... 

118 

XI 

Trouble with the Faculty 

132 

XII 

Braddock’s Defeat 

143 

XIII 

Two Presidents .... 

161 

XIV 

Henry Has an Idea 

172 

XV 

In the Buttery .... 

178 

XVI 

The Yellow Statue 

195 

XVII 

A Tutor Calls .... 

207 

XVIII 

At the Window .... 

218 

XIX 

An Unusual Conversation 

228 

XX 

Down Pretty Brook . 

240 

XXI 

A Suspect 

257 

XXII 

A Talk with the President 

270 

XXIII 

Henry Writes a Note . 

282 

XXIV 

Henry Graduates .... 

290 







ILLUSTRATIONS 


“I’ll get even one of these days” Frontispiece 

FACING PAGE 

“Gentlemen,” George announced, “I have 

a rare treat in store for yon” . . 100 

Maddened with pain he rnshed again . 128 

Henry clung closely to the side of the Inn 

listening to the voices . . . . 284 











































1 1 1 












































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A PRINCETON BOY 
UNDER THE KING 




A PRINCETON BOY 
UNDER THE KING 


CHAPTEE I 

THE FOUNDING OF NASSAU HALL 

It was the afternoon of October 22, 1756. The 
day was warm and the drowzy haze of Indian 
summer hung over the little village of Newark, 
in the Province of East Jersey, disturbed only 
occasionally by a breath of wind from the salt 
meadows which lined the banks of the nearby 
Passaic. It was the kind of a day when lying 
under a tree, arms folded under one’s head, and 
looking up into the whispering foliage was the 
occupation to be preferred above all others. 
The kind of a day when one wanted to lie still, 
to think pleasant lazy thoughts, to speculate 
idly about all kinds of things, and perhaps dis- 
cuss these things at intervals with a friend. 

At any rate these were the things two boys 
1 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 


sprawled out at full length under an apple tree 
were doing. About a hundred feet distant from 
where they were lying was a small, two-story 
frame house. A wide chimney supported it at 
one end, and its bricks, discolored and weather- 
beaten near the top, had the appearance, when 
seen through half-shut eyelids, of being the 
great red face of an ugly giant. If the giant 
were hungry the long low shed running out from 
the rear of the house contained firewood enough 
to satisfy his craving all winter. There was 
no porch on the house, but its bare and rather 
forbidding front view was relieved by a few 
clusters of flowers growing around the door sill 
and near the windows, pinks, marigolds, and 
asters. A path led from the doorway through 
a small orchard of fifteen apple trees to the nar- 
row, dusty wagon-track which served as a thor- 
oughfare for the residents of that section of 
Newark. 

One of the boys under the tree roused himself 
presently and raised his head to watch a man 
on horseback canter past. A cloud of red dust 
arose from the ground with every step the horse 
took and hung for a moment in the still air to 
settle again gradually to earth. 

2 


THE FOUNDING OF NASSAU HALL 


i i If we have a day like this when we move the 
college to Prince Town it is going to be far from 
a pleasant ride,” he remarked after a mo- 
ment. 

‘ 6 We’ll be lucky if it is not worse than this,” 
his companion replied. “ November days in 
this part of the colonies are usually beautiful 
or horrible. If we should happen to strike 
rainy weather the roads will be almost impas- 
sable. We shall get in this Jersey mud to the 
hubs if we go by coach. I personally feel it 
would be more prudent to go by horseback. ’ ’ 

The first speaker was a stockily built young 
man of possibly sixteen years. His hair was 
slightly reddish, and his eyes of that blue-gray 
color that matches so well the clouds which float 
above the highlands of Scotland on a summer 
day. It was from Scotland that this boy’s par- 
ents had come before he was born. Of a sturdy 
race themselves, their eldest son, brought up 
in the rough life of the early settlers, had waxed 
strong and showed promise of a strength which 
upon maturity would eclipse that of his father. 
There were a few freckles scattered here and 
there on his sunburned face, and a few of them 
had apparently slipped over his shoulders and 
3 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 

down his arms to the back of his big bony hands. 
As a result of the shortness of his coat sleeves 
some of them were even visible on his wrists. 
His mouth looked always as if he were about to 
smile, and imparted a genial expression to his 
whole countenance. And yet he could be ex- 
tremely serious and in fact the half-smile al- 
ways disappeared from his face every time he 
glanced at the much- thumbed copy of Watts’ 
“Astronomy” lying open on the grass at his 
side. His name was Thomas Spencer. 

His companion was John Ayres, a small, 
sharp-featured lad a year younger than him- 
self, with black hair, black eyes, and extraor- 
dinarily white teeth. His every movement de- 
picted a restless nervous energy, and he snap- 
ped his words out when he talked. He had 
come to the College of New Jersey from Phila- 
delphia and this was his first year. In fact he 
had been in attendance only a few weeks, or 
since the Commencement the month previous. 
Accordingly he did not know as much about the 
young institution as his friend, who lived in 
Elisabethtown, only five miles away, and had 
been acquainted with the College since its 
founding. But he was always eager for infor- 
4 


THE FOUNDING OF NASSAU HALL 


mation and did not possess the common fault 
of fearing to ask questions. 

“Arrangements are made for the coach, 
aren’t they?” he inquired. 

“Everything has been provided for, I be- 
lieve,” said his friend. “Sam Pierson was to 
see old Denby this morning and clinch the mat- 
ter. It will be great fun unless we have the 
kind of weather you seem to predict. The 
King’s Highway is one of the finest roads in the 
country ordinarily. ’ ’ 

“It is,” said John. “I found it most agree- 
able traveling on the way over from Philadel- 
phia. We carried mail and though one or two 
were afraid of highwaymen, of course nothing 
happened.” 

Thomas laughed. “There’ll be five of us be- 
sides the driver when we go. I’d like to see 
some one try to hold us up.” His eyes shone, 
and rather with expectation than any appear- 
ance of alarm. 

“On my way from Philadelphia,” said John, 
“the driver told me about a place just out of 
Prince Town where the coach robbers are sup- 
posed to have their headquarters. It is called 
‘The Rock House. ’ Of course I don’t know.” 

5 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


“I hope it’s true anyway,” exclaimed 
Thomas, showing more animation than he had 
displayed for some time. 4 ‘ We’ll organize an 
expedition and investigate it some day after 
the college moves.” 

“I was unable to stop at Prince Town but I 
caught a glimpse of Nassau Hall,” John con- 
tinued. “It should be finished in a few months, 
and I can tell you it is a magnificent structure. 
Is it true that it is the largest building in the 
colonies to-day?” 

“ Without question. And one of your fellow 
townsmen is the architect, you know.” 

“Yes, Mr. Robert Shippen, a great friend of 
my father. ’ ’ 

“It will be a wonderful thing for the College 
of New Jersey to be housed in such a building. 
Neither Harvard, nor Yale, nor William and 
Mary, all of which were founded before our own 
institution, has anything to compare with it. 
And incidentally you know that our charter was 
granted just ten years ago to-day.” 

“I know,” said John. “By Governor Lewis 
Morris, was it not?” 

Thomas laughed, “fro,” he said, “not by 
Governor Morris. He was a staunch supporter 
6 


THE FOUNDING OF NASSAU HALL 


of the Church of England and did not favor the 
establishment of an institution of learning by- 
Presbyterians, who stipulated that every one 
should be welcome here no matter what his re- 
ligious opinions or beliefs. No, indeed, Gover- 
nor Morris did not grant us a charter. It was 
his successor, the Acting Governor after his 
death, John Hamilton, President of His Majes- 
ty’s Council and Commander in Chief of the 
Province of New Jersey, if you want his full 
title.” 

“Then the Reverend Jonathan Dickinson be- 
came the first president.” 

“He did, but he only lived about a year after 
the charter was granted. He died in 1747 and 
was buried in the Presbyterian Church ceme- 
tery over at Elisabethtown. That’s where the 
college started, you know; it didn’t come to 
Newark until after President Dickinson died.” 

“I know that,” said John. “I didn’t know 
anything much about the charter or the first 
president, though. Doctor Dickinson must have 
been a great man. ’ ’ 

“And a busy one,” exclaimed Thomas, clos- 
ing the astronomy book with a sigh of satis- 
faction and settling himself against the trunk 
7 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 

of the tree. “Why in addition to being presi- 
dent of the college and teaching the students, 
he was pastor of a church, practiced law, and 
as if these things were not enough for one man 
to do, practiced medicine too.” 

John made no comment for some time. 
Finally he heaved a great sigh. “I don’t see 
how any man could know so much, ’ ’ he said. 

“He was a graduate of Yale,” said Thomas. 

“Does that explain his great knowledge?” 
laughed John. 

“I didn’t mean to imply that,” said Thomas 
with a smile. “I was merely stating a fact. I 
do not think it is possible to acquire a better 
education anywhere in the colonies than right 
here under our new president, Aaron Burr. 
But we do owe much to Yale. Six of the seven 
original trustees of the college were Yale gradu- 
ates, and the seventh a graduate of Harvard. 
President Burr himself graduated from Yale.” 

“We might almost be called an offshoot of 
Yale, mightn’t we?” 

“I don’t know that that is strictly true,” 
said Thomas, who loved to display his knowl- 
edge of the beginnings of the college, “although 
the way Dr. David Brainerd was treated at 
8 


THE FOUNDING OF NASSAU HALL 

Yale is said to have made some of that college’s 
supporters so angry that they resolved to break 
with it and start an institution of their ow T n.” 

“You mean David Brainerd, the famous mis- 
sionary to the Indians?” 

“The very man,” Thomas exclaimed. “It 
seems he made some remarks that were not con- 
sidered in keeping with the teachings of reli- 
gion, and when they were reported to the au- 
thorities at Yale he was not allowed to take his 
degree.” 

“Pretty severe punishment, it seems to me,” 
said John. 

“And others thought so too. That’s why 
they wanted to start a college of their own 
where a man could believe what he wanted to. 
I say this because last Sunday evening when 
some of us were gathered at Dr. Scott’s after 
prayers I heard President Burr say as much 
himself.” 

“I had never heard that President Clap of 
Yale is at all a narrow-minded man,” said John. 
“My father has often spoken of him in the most 
glowing terms. Probably he would have wished 
me to attend Yale were it not so distant from 
Philadelphia.” 


9 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


‘ ‘There you’ve struck it to my way of think- 
ing,” cried Thomas, leaning forward and bring- 
ing his hand down sharply upon the book, 
4 ‘Yale is too far away for students to attend 
from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. A college 
was needed in the middle colonies. That is the 
real reason the College of New Jersey was 
founded, I believe, although the Brainerd trou- 
ble may have furnished the excuse. ’ ’ 

“And we can thank John Hamilton for the 
charter. ’ ’ 

“Yes, but we got a second charter from Gov- 
ernor Belcher two years later. Some people 
said our original charter was invalid because 
Hamilton was old and not responsible when it 
was granted. So the trustees applied to Gov- 
ernor Belcher for another and he granted it in 
the name of the King eight years ago, soon 
after he came over from London to take Ham- 
ilton’s place. Governor Belcher has been an 
enthusiastic friend and supporter of ours from 
the start. He did a great deal to help us in 
getting Nassau Hall.” 

“I should have thought they would have 
named it after him.” 

“They tried to,” said Thomas. “They 

10 


THE FOUNDING OF NASSAU HALL 


wanted to call it Belcher Hall, but the governor 
would not hear of it. In the speech he made 
declining the honor he made the suggestion 
that it he named in honor of King William the 
Third, who, as you know, belonged to the House 
of Nassau. So long as he wanted this done the 
trustees were agreeable and thus the college 
was called ‘Nassau Hall.’ ” 

“A dignified name,” said John, “and one 
that I trust will some day be famous . 7 9 

At that moment the door of the nearby house 
opened and disclosed a buxom, kindly-faced wo- 
man of about forty years of age. Around her 
head was a large handkerchief, obviously to 
keep the dust out of her hair for she leaned 
her right hand on a broom. 

“Tom Spencer,” she called shrilly, “the next 
time you come into my house and track dirt 
over my clean floors there’s to be trouble. Are 
you too tired to scrape your boots when you 
come home from the court house?” 

Her voice sounded angry, but Thomas did 
not seem to be worried. He rose to his feet, 
placed his left arm over his heart, swept his 
cap from his head with his right hand, and 
bowed low. 


11 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


“ Mistress Kennedy,” he exclaimed in the 
politest tones he conld summon, “you know 
that if I were the guilty party I should have re- 
moved the stains myself. Do you think that I 
would track dirt into the home of the most 
amiable, the most charming, the most obliging, 
and the prettiest landlady in the town of New- 
ark ; and then go away and permit her to stain 
her lovely hands with the task of removing it? 
Why, Mistress Kennedy.” 

“Go on, ye rascal!” she exclaimed, beaming 
from ear to ear. “Stop your flatterin’ of me. 
You know who tracked that dirt in as well as I 
do.” 

“But, Mistress Kennedy, you don’t think I’d 
tell on Mr. Ayres, do you? He has only been 
here a short time and I should not like to have 
him incur your ire if it can be avoided.” 

“No, now Mr. Ayres didn’t do it at all,” said 
the smiling landlady. “If you was only as neat 
as him I would have little to do. If all the stu- 
dents was like him I’d be sorry the college was 
moving away, but I can’t say I’ll miss you 
much.” 

This was nob true, for Mrs. Kennedy was de- 
voted to young Thomas Spencer. He made her 
12 


THE FOUNDING OF NASSAU HALL 


work as she said, but she would have done twice 
as much for him without complaint had it been 
necessary. Sometimes, as at present, she tried 
to scold him, but she seldom had much success, 
and now she slammed the door and disappeared 
inside when Thomas, pretending to be hurt at 
her. words, pulled out his handkerchief and be- 
gan to wipe his eyes. “He’s incorrigible,” she 
muttered. 


13 


CHAPTER II 


PRESIDENT AARON BURR 

The following morning at half past six John 
Ayres walked through the orchard in front of 
Mrs. Kennedy’s house where he and Thomas 
Spencer boarded at the rate of twelve pounds a 
year apiece. He was on his way to the court 
house to recite to President Burr on the works 
of the Greek author Xenophon, at seven o ’clock, 
and the president did not permit tardiness at 
recitations. Under his leadership the College 
of New Jersey had prospered, and there were 
now about seventy students in attendance. Not 
having any college buildings it was a knotty 
problem how to provide lodging and board for 
them, and to find a place where recitations 
could be held. The first part of the problem 
was unsatisfactorily solved by having the stu- 
dents board with private families in the town, 
and the second by permission being granted 
the College to hold its class-room exercises in 
in the county court house. 

14 


PRESIDENT AARON BURR 

Mr. Prime had been talking with John about 
this only a few days previous. Mr. Benjamin 
Y. Prime was one of the tutors who assisted the 
president in teaching. His initials being B and 
Y, he was familiarly known to the students as 
“By” Prime. None of them dared speak this 
nickname in public, however, for nicknames 
were strictly forbidden by the laws of the col- 
lege, and rendered the user liable to suspension. 
In the case of Mr. Prime, however, there was 
meant no disrespect, for he was admired and 
well liked by all the students. He, with the 
other tutor, Mr. John Ewing, assisted President 
Burr in the instruction of the students and these 
three men composed the faculty of the college. 

John enjoyed the classes conducted by Presi- 
dent Burr. They were always intensely inter- 
esting, and the students could not help but ab- 
sorb some of the enthusiasm with which the 
youthful president was so plentifully endued. 
He was a born teacher, and got results because 
he not only enjoyed teaching but showed his en- 
joyment plainly. Before the College of New 
Jersey was founded he had established a classi- 
cal school at Newark for the benefit of the young 
men of the church of which he was pastor. 

15 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 


When Jonathan Dickinson died and he became 
head of the young institution he had of course 
given up this school, and thrown himself heart 
and soul into his new work. In fact, for the 
first three years of his presidency he had re- 
ceived no pay. But this circumstance did not 
make him work any the less. And as John 
looked at him now, seated on the platform at 
the end of the small room adjoining the court- 
room, he was struck by his haggard and tired 
appearance ; his face was drawn, his eyes were 
ringed with deep circles, and his manner seemed 
listless, a circumstance so unusual as to be no- 
ticeable. Consequently he was not surprised 
when he presently complained of feeling ill, and 
dismissed the class before the allotted time had 
expired. 

“The president looks badly,” said Henry 
Stirling, a friend and classmate of John, as they 
walked away from the court house. 

“Badly indeed,” said John. “His look wor- 
ries me.” 

“He has been working too hard.” 

“Too bad he can’t give up the teaching for a 
time until the college is removed to Prince 
Town and settled there.” 

16 


PRESIDENT AARON BURR 

‘ 4 You are right, ’ ’ Henry exclaimed. 4 ‘ Trying 
to raise funds, to teach, and to direct the build- 
ing of Nassau Hall are tasks too great for one 
man to attempt. ’ ’ 

“It seems to me,” said John in his brusque, 
sharp manner, “that if the college needs money 
the thing to do is to have a lottery. Nearly 
every one will buy a lottery ticket on the chance 
of gain.” 

Henry Stirling turned his blue eyes on John’s 
face. “My dear boy,” he said with a bitter 
smile, “don’t you know that the board of trus- 
tees have petitioned the Assembly any number 
of times for permission to hold a lottery for the 
college, and every time they are turned back 
with a curt refusal. Representatives of the 
trustees have appeared before the Assembly at 
Perth Amboy in person. I know because I live 
there, and I also know that their petitioning 
the Assembly does no good.” 

“A lottery was drawn in Philadelphia for the 
benefit of the college seven or eight years ago. ’ ’ 

“But that is not New Jersey, and at any 
rate I’ll wager the college got little from it. 
Why, I’ve heard that a large portion of the 
tickets were sold on credit and that few of the 
17 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


people ever paid. Can you imagine such a 
thing? Personally I believe that when a gentle- 
man gives his word that should be sufficient. A 
lottery ticket is not exactly the same as a gam- 
bling debt, of course, but it should be treated 
in the same way, as a debt of honor and paid 
promptly/ ’ Henry lowered his voice. “Last 
evening, for instance, I lost over a pound at 
cards. I haven’t got the money and in conse- 
quence I shall have to borrow it until the next 
instalment of my allowance is due. ’ ’ He looked 
at John hopefully. “You couldn’t spare that 
much for a fortnight, could you?” 

“Sorry,” said John, “but my own funds are 
very low. Anyway, Henry, you ought not to 
gamble at cards. It is against the teachings of 
the church, and besides you know what would 
happen to you if President Burr or one of the 
tutors or trustees heard of it.” 

“But how can they?” demanded Henry, who 
seemed to prefer to discuss John’s second ob- 
jection and ignore the first. “Here we are 
boarding in houses scattered all over the vil- 
lage. It is impossible for any one to watch us 
with any success. Trust me not to get caught.” 

“It takes time that you should spend in 
18 


PRESIDENT AARON BURR 


study/ ’ objected John, still hopeful of finding 
some argument that would have an effect. 

* 4 Quite right,” Henry agreed glibly. “But 
it’s a question whether cards or books are more 
profitable, when my luck is good. Last evening 
it was evil and books would have been more 
profitable. But my luck is good so far to-day, for 
my brain is addled and I should have had a dif- 
ficult time if President Burr had called upon me 
for a recitation. Particularly if he had 
switched from Xenophon to the New Testa- 
ment as he does sometimes, and had asked me 
to translate any of that Greek into Latin. For 
his sake I am sorry he is sick, but you know 
the saying about the ill wind that blows nobody 
good.” 

“Henry, you’re incorrigible,” cried John, 
and this word in its colloquial sense described 
his friend very well indeed ; an attractive, irre- 
sponsible boy, with charming manners, care- 
less rather than bad habits, and spirits which 
could not be low for longer than a very short 
time, he was a universal favorite with the stu- 
dent body. 

This in spite of the fact that many did not 
approve of him. In those days most of the 
19 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 


boys who went to college did so with the inten- 
tion of preparing themselves for the ministry. 
This was John’s intention, but Henry some- 
how did not seem drawn to this work. His main 
purpose and aim in life at the present moment 
seemed to be to have a good time. His mother 
was dead, and his father, a well-to-do merchant, 
gave his only son his own way in practically 
everything. He supplied him with a generous 
allowance and asked only — or at least so it 
seemed — that his boy keep up in his studies. 
This was easy enough for Henry Stirling; les- 
sons came easily to him and though he spent less 
time in their preparation than most, he usually 
stood well up in his class. Ontology was his fa- 
vorite study and he was credited by some of the 
students with a better knowledge of the subject 
than Watts himself, author of the famous text- 
book. But it was a question whether young 
Stirling’s aptitude for acquiring knowledge 
easily was an advantage or not; sometimes 
things which come too easily are not appre- 
ciated and do not last very long. 

Whatever else Henry was, however, he was 
attractive, and every one liked him, liked his 
smile, his conversation, and his company gen- 
20 


PRESIDENT AARON BURR 

erally. As he and John Ayres walked along 
the well-worn footpath bordering the dusty vil- 
lage street that October morning the people 
they met all had a smile for him and a pleasant 
word; and this was the case whether the pass- 
er sby were on foot, on horseback, or driving. 
He knew them all, and they all knew him. 

“I don’t mean to be flippant about President 
Burr,” he said to John. “You know perfectly 
well that I’m sorry he’s sick. I’ve noticed very 
often of late that he is not looking well.” 

“Tom Spencer says it is the frequent trips 
to Prince Town which are tiring him.” 

“I shouldn’t be surprised. And sometimes 
he has gone there and back in two days. Now, 
I say that Newark to Prince Town and return 
is entirely too long a ride for a man of Presi- 
dent Burr’s age to take in that short time.” 

“How old is he!” 

“He must be forty at least. A man isn’t as 
strong when he gets to be that old as he was 
once.” 

“Right you are,” said John. “I hope that 
when the college is removed to Prince Town and 
once established there that he will have a chance 
to rest.” 


21 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

“And make up more rules for the students 
to break, ’ ’ laughed Henry. “ If he should know 
about my game of cards last night I suppose 
I would be fined the customary five shillings for 
the first offense. I wonder, by the way, if ‘first 
offense ’ means the first time you break the rule 
against card playing or the first time you get 
caught? I’ve played often enough, but I’ve 
never been caught, and I’m glad we were not 
found out last night. I lost enough without hav- 
ing a fine to pay besides.” 

“You know what happens if you’re caught 
the second time, don’t you!” 

Henry made a wry face. “Oh, yes, public 
warning, and expulsion the third time. I signed 
the rules of the college when I entered just like 
every one else. I know every one of them, and 
that’s why it is easy for me to break them and 
not get caught. It’s the fellow who is ignorant 
of them who is liable to make mistakes which 
are fatal.” 

John could not help smiling at this reason- 
ing. But he knew that there was considerable 
truth in his friend’s remarks. Certainly Henry 
Stirling seldom got into difficulties as the result 
22 


PRESIDENT AARON BURR 


of ignorance of what he was doing. He was 
far too clever for that. 

“ With whom were you playing !” asked John. 

“You won’t tell!” Henry glanced at him 
sharply. 

4 1 Of course not, ’ 9 cried John. ‘ ‘ Do you think 
I’d ask such a question and then tattle on you 
when you answered it!” 

“Forgive me,” said Henry quickly. “I 
should have known better than to ask such a 
question. There were four of us in all, Ezra 
Whitaker, George Dodd, and Hugh Harris be- 
sides myself. Hugh won money from every one 
of us. He is too lucky for words. I suppose 
he’ll write a poem about it.” He laughed. 

“He does write poetry, doesn’t he!” said 
John. 

“And very creditable verse too. He’s in 
love, that’s the answer, of course.” Henry by 
the tone of his voice showed that in his estima- 
tion being in love was a poor pastime for any 
able-bodied young man. “Huh,” he snorted. 

“You know the saying, don’t you!” queried 
John, “ ‘ Lucky at cards, unlucky in love.’ His 
success at cards last night should cause him 
worry. ’ ’ 


23 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

“Well I must say that it worries me,” said 
Henry with emphasis. “I wish he were luckier 
with his game of love if that would change his 
luck at cards. Since the term opened I have 
handed over to him about half of my allow- 
ance.” 

“Why don’t you stop it then? That’s easy.” 

“Not so easy as you think when you are be- 
hind. Perhaps when I get back the money I 
have lost I’ll quit it then.” 

“That’s what they all say,” exclaimed John 
scornfully. “You know as well as I do that 
the only time to stop is now. Setting some fu- 
ture date is absolutely fatal.” 

“You are very convincing, John,” said 
Henry with a twinkle in his eye. “You should 
make an excellent minister. Meanwhile I must 
find a pound with which to pay Hugh Harris. 
Who do you think is the best prospect? I swore 
I’d pay him to-day.” 

“Why don’t you ask your landlady?” 

“Mrs. Caxton?” exclaimed Henry with a 
laugh. “She’s as miserly as her food is bad. 
Why she’d just as soon cut her right arm off as 
to lend me money. Besides that she hates me, 
and only yesterday she was kind enough to in- 
24 


PRESIDENT AARON BURR 

form me that she had seen me coming out of a 
tavern last Thursday night and had a notion 
of reporting me to Mr. Prime.” 

“What have you done to make her dislike 
you so strongly?” 

“Oh, she dislikes everybody,” said Henry. 
“Perhaps she hates me worse than most, but 
she’s pretty much down on all the human in- 
habitants of the world. I’ll be glad when we 
move to Prince Town and I’m rid of her.” 

“Not a very good prospect for you to borrow 
money from, I should say,” laughed John. 

“But here’s the man,” exclaimed Henry sud- 
denly. They were approaching a low wooden 
building with a sign over the doorway which 
proclaimed to the passing world that inside 
John Kirkpatrick did horseshoeing. The sound 
of ringing blows on the anvil heard a consider- 
able distance away unquestionably would have 
made this fact clear anyway, but the sign done 
in red and white was, next to his profession, 
the pride of the burly blacksmith’s heart. 
Every one who brought a horse to Kirkpatrick 
was obliged to listen to the story of the sign, 
how it was probably the best in the whole col- 
ony, how its design was the blacksmith’s own, 
25 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

and liow much it had cost. On a background of 
white, large red letters announced the name 
of the proprietor, while at one end of the name 
was the picture, also in red, of a highstepping 
horse, his steps higher than his pedigree prob- 
ably, for his creator had scarcely done the breed 
of horses justice in his delineation of this par- 
ticular specimen. His neck seemed unneces- 
sarily long to the unbiased observer, and his 
legs and body did not seem to have been de- 
signed for the same animal. However, Kirk- 
patrick was a biased observer and he was per- 
fectly satisfied with the vermilion steed. At 
the opposite end of his name as it appeared on 
the sign, balancing the picture of the horse, 
were printed a number of small horseshoes so 
arranged as to form the initials J. K. one above 
the other. An exceptional sign certainly. 

As Henry and John approached the shop 
there emerged from within a small red-faced 
man, wearing a cap, a shabby green coat, and 
riding boots. He tapped his right leg with a 
riding whip with every step he took, and so kept 
time with his footsteps. He was a little too 
stout for his coat which, buttoned tightly 
around his waist, seemed to threaten constantly 
26 


PRESIDENT AARON BURR 


to fly apart. This circumstance did not seem to 
worry him in the least, however, for his count- 
enance radiated good humor, and even his gray 
hair seemed to have a halo of benignity about it. 

“Denby,” exclaimed Henry, “I am as glad to 
see you as I would be to see King George him- 
self. I trust you are very well.” 

The little man grinned broadly. “Good 
morning, Mr. Stirling,” he exclaimed. “I hope 
I see you well this morning, and what can I do 
for you?” 

“A great favor,” said Henry earnestly. “I 
am in need of money.” 

“I thought so,” cried Denby with a chuckle. 
“When people tell me they are as glad to see me 
as if I were His Majesty himself it usually 
means money.” 

“You do me an injustice,” said Henry, affect- 
ing an injured air. 

“No offense, sir,” said Denby, his eyes twink- 
ling. “I was not referring to you, sir.” 

Henry laughed. “There’s no use in trying 
to fool you, Denby. Of course I am always glad 
to see you, as you know, but it does happen that 
meeting you this particular morning I am par- 
ticularly happy to do so if our meeting should 
27 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

lead to a solution of the difficulty I am in just at 
present.” 

“Playing cards again I suppose.” 

‘ ‘ Ssh, ’ ’ Henry admonished, holding his finger 
to his lips. “Not so loud.” 

“All right,” said Denby cheerfully. “You 
can trust me. How much do you want?” 

“Only a pound.” 

“ ‘Only a pound?’ ” Denby repeated. “Did 
you lose all that at one sitting?” 

“I don’t see what difference that makes,” 
said Henry with a trace of coolness. 

“Except that it’s a lot of money for a young 
gentleman like you to be losing all at once. 
Why don’t you stop it?” 

“Just what I tell him,” John exclaimed. 

“Look here,” said Henry, “if you two are 
intending to read me a sermon I have other 
things to do. We were talking about the possi- 
bility of your loaning me a pound, Denby. If 
you can spare it for a fortnight I shall be very 
grateful to you ; if it is not convenient for you 
to do it, I apologize for having troubled you.” 

Denby ’s expression had never changed. His 
eyes and mouth maintained their look of good 
humor as Henry delivered himself of this 
28 


PRESIDENT AARON BURR 


speech, and when it was ended he broke into a 
loud laugh, and struck his right boot a resound- 
ing thwack with his crop. “Got some spunk, 
haven’t you?” he exclaimed. “Good boy.” 
Whereupon he thrust his hand into his breast 
pocket and pulled out a note for one pound, 
proclamation money of the Colony of Jersey. 

“ To be returned in a fortnight ? ” he queried, 
as he proffered the piece of paper to Henry. 

“On the day we start for Prince Town,” said 
Henry. “It’s most good of you, Denby.” 


29 


CHAPTER III 


THE START FOR PRINCE TOWN 

The cold wind swept in from Newark Bay and 
the adjoining waters which separated Staten 
Island from the mainland of the Province of 
East Jersey. With it came rain, fine needle 
drops which the wind hurled in handfuls into 
the faces of those persons whom duty called 
abroad on such a day, or against the window 
panes of the dripping houses, as if it were spite- 
ful of the log fires burning within and would 
like to deny the inmates the warmth and cheer 
the blazes afforded. The sky was leaden and 
dark, the low-lying clouds heavy with rain, 
wind and cold. The air was damp and pene- 
trating and the unfortunate person obliged to 
be outdoors shivered no matter how warmly he 
was dressed or how vigorously he walked. The 
trees, already pretty well stripped of their foli- 
age, were fast losing their few remaining leaves, 
which dropped heavily to the ground like water- 
soaked bits of paper. Huge puddles lined the 
30 


THE START FOR PRINCE TOWN 

streets, pitfalls for the unwary walker who did 
not use extreme care in the selection of solid 
bits of earth for his mud-spattered boots. 

“I doubt if we should start,” said Denby. 
With the tips of his fingers he rubbed on the 
dirty window pane of the livery stable and 
peered out at the bleak November day. “I 
would not wager that we can get over the roads 
at all in weather like this.” 

“But we must,” exclaimed Henry Stirling. 
“We have made all arrangements. It is too late 
to change our plans now.” 

“Your landladies will keep you one more day, 
won’t they?” said Denby. 

“Mine won’t if I can help it,” said Henry 
grimly. “I’d rather spend the night out in the 
cold and the rain than go back to that Caxton 
woman.” 

“Well, if you start for Prince Town to-day 
you may not only spend to-night out in the cold * 
and the rain, but in the mud as well,” said 
Denby dourly. “ ’Tis an awful bad day, and 
I think ’twould be a mistake to try it. Besides, 

I don’t like to risk my horses.” 

“It won’t hurt your horses a bit,” exclaimed 
Samuel Pierson, one of the group of five young 
31 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

men gathered in Kirkpatrick’s livery stable. 
He it was who had had the arrangements for 
the trip in charge. When it came to matters of 
business, of driving good bargains, he was gen- 
erally regarded as being without a peer among 
the students of the college. He was of medium 
height, blond, with an innocent expression which 
belied the shrewdness only hinted at by his clear 
blue eyes. “You told me when I first 
talked with you, Denby, ,, he continued, “that 
we would start to-day no matter what the 
weather.” 

The coach driver looked more worried than 
ever at this remark. He made no reply, but 
stood silent with his hands thrust deep into his 
trousers pockets, his glance on the floor. 

“Of course,” said Sam Pierson mildly, “if 
you are afraid your horses aren’t up to the 
work that’s a different matter entirely.” 

Thomas Spencer nudged John Ayres, who 
was standing next to him. He knew, as all the 
boys knew, that Joseph Denby was inordinately 
proud of his horses, that he often boasted that 
they were superior to any possessed by any 
liveryman in the world. A suggestion that they 
might not be equal to any work required of them 
32 


THE START FOR PRINCE TOWN 

was practically certain of results. Samuel’s 
thrust was a shrewd one. 

Denby removed his hands from his pockets 
with alacrity, threw back his shoulders and 
greeted the five boys with a cheery smile. 
“ We ’ll start in twenty minutes,” he exclaimed. 
“It wasn’t the horses I was worrying about; 
it was you young gentlemen being out in such 
beastly weather. I merely mentioned the horses 
because I didn’t want to hurt anybody’s feel- 
ings. But if none of you mind, heaven knows 
it’s easy enough for the horses.” 

Immediately he was all bustle and business. 
The horses were led from their stalls and har- 
nessed to the lumbering old four-wheeled coach 
which was to bear these five young students of 
the College of New Jersey to that institution’s 
new home in Nassau Hall in the little village of 
Prince Town. It is difficult to dampen youth- 
ful ardor, no matter how hard it may rain, how 
strong the wind, or how cold the day. Here 
was an adventure, and Samuel Pierson, John 
Ayres, Thomas Spencer, Henry Stirling and 
Hugh Harris were eager to embark upon it. 
Willing hands assisted Joseph Denby in the 
final preparations and the allotted twenty min- 
33 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


utes had scarcely elapsed when the coach 
rumbled over the threshold of the livery stable 
and turned Westward. 

The horses had emerged upon the street on a 
dead run. Denby always liked the impression 
this made upon observers. To-day, however, 
the pace immediately subsided to a walk and a 
slow one at that. The horses tugged and 
strained in the harness, splashed and stumbled 
in the puddles of water which almost obliterated 
the roadway, and sank knee-deep into the oozy, 
red mire. Denby shouted to them and cracked 
his whip, but they were doing their utmost and 
could not quicken their pace. Huddled together 
in the stage the five boys vainly tried to shield 
themselves from the elements. The rain beat 
in upon them, and they were soon dripping wet 
and collars turned high and caps pulled down 
over faces as far as they would go were of little 
avail. The cold wind chilled them through and 
through. 

“ Denby was right I think,” said Hugh Harris 
in a low voice to his companions, after some 
fifteen minutes of this and only half a mile had 
been covered. 

“Not at all,” said Henry Stirling. “This is 
34 


THE START FOR PRINCE TOWN 


all right. I’m so glad to be leaving Newark 
and starting for Nassau Hall that anything 
would be worth while.’ ’ 

They lapsed into silence. The lumbering 
coach rolled and pitched like a ship at sea, only 
the bottom of the ruts and gullies into which 
the wheels were thrown offered more resistance 
than the hollows between ocean waves, and the 
passengers were jostled and thumped, hurled 
first one way and then the other. Denby on the 
box had lost all his good nature ; he swore and 
blasphemed, whipped the horses one minute and 
pleaded with them the next. They, poor beasts, 
.were not to blame for the slowness of progress. 
They exerted all the strength they had, strain- 
ing to the utmost of their power to drag the 
heavy stage along. Steam rose steadily from 
their dripping backs and flanks, their nostrils 
were quivering and distended, and their labored 
breathing could be plainly heard by the occu- 
pants of the stage. 

Only once did the driver address any remarks 
directly to his passengers. “Put Joe Denby 
down for a fool if he ever takes his stage 
out in weather like this again,” he said 
bitterly. 


35 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


No one offered to reply and he devoted his 
attention to the horses again, only ignoring 
them for increasingly frequent pulls at a bottle 
of rum carried conveniently in the pocket of his 
great coat. As the stage got further away from 
Newark the road grew worse. The ground was 
low and marshy, the puddles increased in depth 
and size, the footing for the horses grew 
steadily more treacherous, until they were 
splashing and floundering and making scarcely 
any progress. 

‘ ‘ Right/ ’ shouted Denby suddenly, and all 
five boys threw themselves hurriedly to the 
right side of the stage. It was the only thing 
that kept it from capsizing. One of the leaders 
had stepped into a hole and down he went on 
his knees. The horse behind him reared and 
plunged and then the other two took fright. 
Denby, his mind cloudy and his hands unsteady 
as a result of his many draughts from the rum 
bottle, found them unmanageable; he tugged 
and yanked at the reins, shouted and swore, but 
his efforts to straighten things out only seemed 
to make the tangle worse. 

The stage rocked and rolled while its cold 
and rain-soaked passengers were hard put to 
36 


THE START FOR PRINCE TOWN 

it to stay in it at all. The horses bucked and 
plunged, becoming more and more frightened 
every moment and it looked as if they might do 
themselves serious injury. With an exclama- 
tion of anger, Henry Stirling leaped from the 
stage. He alighted on all fours in the mud and 
water and slime, but was on his feet in an in- 
stant, making his way to the horses as fast as 
the condition of the ground would allow. He 
seized the bridle of the one which was down, 
helped him to his feet, spoke soothing words to 
the trembling, frightened animal and presently 
had all four of them quiet. 

Then Denby jerked the reins again and the 
horses jumped. Henry still had his hand on the 
leader’s bridle, and as the horses plunged for- 
ward he was jerked violently off his balance, 
lost his footing on the treacherous ground and 
fell directly under the swinging hoofs. 

There was a cry of alarm from his com- 
panions. Thomas Spencer was the first to col- 
lect his wits. He sprang forward and seized 
the reins from Denby ’s partially numbed hands, 
braced his feet against the dashboard and 
pulled in with all of his strength. His action 
had been sudden and violent. In his assault 
37 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

upon the reins he had bumped roughly into 
Denby, and that unfortunate individual, thor- 
oughly bewildered and unnerved, lost his bal- 
ance, clutched wildly at the air and toppled 
over. Over the side of the coach he went, struck 
the top of his head on the right front wheel 
and fell prone into the mud. 

The remaining boys, Hugh, John and Sam, 
had all jumped off the stage by this time, and 
as if by a prearranged plan each seized the 
bridle and fetlock of one of the horses. None 
of them paid the slightest attention to Denby, 
who was slowly rising from the ooze and slime 
into which he had fallen ; his face was covered 
with mud as if by a mask, mud dripped from 
his hands, mud covered him literally from head 
to foot. And presently a figure which looked 
as if it might have been his twin dragged itself 
from the mud and water in front of the horses, 
attempted to rise, slipped back, tried again and 
got to its feet. The horses, as a result of the 
four boys’ efforts, now stood quietly. 

“Are you hurt, Henry?” demanded John 
anxiously. 

For answer Henry spat out a mouthful of 
mud and water. He rubbed the back of his left 
38 


THE START FOR PRINCE TOWN 

sleeve across his face, and scraped mud and 
water from his hands. 

“No,” he said. 

“Get in the stage again then, and take my 
coat. You must be wet to the skin.” 

Henry looked at the speaker quizzically. “I 
suppose you are warm and dry.” 

“Drier than you,” John insisted. “Take my 
coat.” He started to take it off. 

“Keep it, please,” Henry exclaimed. “I’m 
very grateful to you, but I couldn’t think of 
accepting it.” 

He climbed back into the coach, and then 
spied Denby for the first time. That unfortu- 
nate individual was bending over, his hands 
under the water as if he were feeling for some- 
thing. His footing was so slippery and his 
brain so befogged by the fumes of the rum he 
had drunk that he was continually losing his 
balance and falling down into the muddy water 
again. Then he would labor to his feet once 
more and continue his search. 

“What’s the matter, Denby!” inquired 
Henry, amused in spite of himself at the 
antics of the livery stableman. “Lost some- 
thing!” 


39 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

“I losht my bottle,’ ’ muttered Denby, and 
fell down. 

“Oh, is that all,” laughed Henry. “Well, 
we can’t stop for that. Get up here with me. 
We’re starting on.” 

“Who’s going to drive?” demanded Hugh. 
“Certainly not Denby.” 

“I c’n drive,” Denby mumbled, still fumbling 
for his lost bottle. 

“I’ll drive,” said Thomas. “Get aboard 
everybody. ’ ’ 

“We’d better walk,” said Sam Pierson. 
“You drive, Tom, and let Henry and Denby 
ride. We others better travel on foot for 
awhile.” 

“I want to walk myself in just a minute,” 
said Henry. “First, I must scrape some of 
this mud off my face and clothes. Then I 
want to walk to get warm. Come up here, 
Denby. ’ ’ 

Denby turned a mud-covered face in the di- 
rection of the speaker, and pointed at a spot 
close beside him where he apparently thought 
the bottle had fallen. He said something en- 
tirely unintelligible. 

“Pick him up and put him in,” ordered 
40 


THE START FOR PRINCE TOWN 

Henry, busily scraping mud from his person 
and wringing dirty water out of his clothes. 

Hugh, John and Sam were quick to take ad- 
vantage of this suggestion, and sloshing their 
way to where Denby stood they picked him up 
bodily and dumped him into the stage. There 
he lay, limp and sodden, a drunken, inert mass 
of mud, reeking of rum and spirits. 

“ Drive on, Tom,” cried John. 

The rain still fell, and the cold wind still blew 
from the salt meadows, chilling the little band 
to the very marrow of their bones. So they 
progressed, the boys alternating at driving 
while the others walked. Denby lay in the 
coach, sunk in a sleep which defied the rain, the 
cold, and the bumping and rocking of the stage 
which swayed from side to side, pitching him 
first one way then another, but never waking 
him. More than five hours had elapsed since 
they had started, when finally the sorry looking 
cavalcade reached Elisabethtown less than a 
half dozen miles away. Their start had been 
delayed, and when they arrived at that little 
town the afternoon was almost gone and dark- 
ness was fast settling over the landscape. 

“We stop here to-night,” said Thomas. 

41 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 


“ Indeed we do,” exclaimed Henry. ‘ i Drive 
to the Red Lion, John.” 

A few minutes later the coach stood in the 
stable yard of the little inn, servants were un- 
harnessing the horses and leading them into 
the lantern-lit barn adjoining. Denby, now 
half conscious, was assisted into the tap room 
and adjusted to one of the chairs. The boys 
were warming themselves before the big log 
fire, talking with the landlord, arranging for an 
enormous dinner and all in all thoroughly en- 
joying the warm candle-lit room, such a con- 
trast to the chill November weather outside. 


42 


CHAPTER IV 


AT THE RED LION 

When arrangements for dinner had been com- 
pleted, and the landlord had promised to set 
before the hungry boys the best his larder af- 
forded, they were ready to think of dry clothes. 
The landlord bustled around, provided candles 
and in a very few moments was ready to lead 
them to the second floor where the bedrooms 
were situated. Fires had already been lighted 
in the rooms, the wood boxes replenished and 
clean sheets put on all the beds. 

4 ‘ Lead the way, landlord, ’ ’ cried Henry. “We 
want to be ready when dinner is.” 

“ You can dress more quickly than I can roast 
a duck, I’ll wager,” said that cheery, red-faced 
mountain of a man. “I haven’t started the 
fowls yet so you have plenty of time.” 

“Where’s Denby?” 

Sam Pierson was the first to notice that their 
erstwhile driver was no longer in the chair in 
which he had been sleeping. 

43 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

“He’s gone,” exclaimed Hugh Harris. 

“Evidently,” said Sam. “I want to know 
where he is.” 

“Gone to bed probably,” said Henry with a 
smile. “That’s the best place for him, too.” 

“Denby gone to bed?” laughed the landlord, 
returning to the room from the stairway he had 
started to ascend. “Denby hasn’t gone to bed 
at this hour. I know him too well to believe 
that, but I guess I can find him.” 

He swung open the door leading to the tap- 
room. Leaning against the bar were some half 
dozen men, among them one whose face and 
clothes were covered with mud. He was stand- 
ing with his back against the bar telling a story, 
while the others of the group were gathered 
about him in a half circle listening with amused 
smiles. As the door opened the story teller 
glanced around, and seeing the huge figure of 
the proprietor standing there he pointed a wav- 
ering finger at him, and sang in a thick voice : 

“Oh, landlord, you’re a funny old thing.” 

He acted as if he would have liked to sing 
more, but the impromptu verse seemed to have 
no second line, and he stopped, his finger still 
pointing. One eye was closed and he seemed to 
44 


AT THE EED LION 


encounter great difficulty in finding a focus for 
the one still remaining open. 

1 ‘ Come on, Joe,” said the landlord briskly. 
“We want you.” 

“Can’t,” said Denby briefly. 

“Come on,” repeated the proprietor. 

1 1 Can ’t , 9 9 Denby insisted. ‘ ‘ Telling a story. ’ 9 

“You’d better not wait for him to finish,” 
said one of the group in front of the bar. “He 
began his tale twenty minutes ago and not one 
of us understands a thing of what he is driving 
at.” 

Denby looked at the speaker reproachfully. 
“I hadn’t really started,” he said. 

This statement was greeted with a loud laugh. 

“None of us can wait for the finish then,” ex- 
claimed the man who had first spoken. “If 
after twenty minutes steady talking he hasn’t 
got started it will probably take him all night 
if he goes through to the end.” 

“You make me sick,” said Denby thickly. “I 
was telling ’bout hold-up on the road. Have 
a drink, ev’one.” 

He turned and reached for his glass, which 
was standing on the bar. He moved too quickly, 
however, for his foot slipped. He clutched 
45 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

wildly at the edge of the bar, missed it, and sat 
down violently. Then he burst into tears. 

4 4 Poor Denby, ' ' muttered Henry. 4 4 The place 
for him certainly is in bed. Let's get him 
there." 

Willing hands assisted him to his feet. He 
made no offer of resistance, and a few moments 
later was tucked snugly away in bed, sunk in 
a heavy, troubled sleep. 

4 4 It will do him good," said John. 4 4 Now 
he'll be able to drive to-morrow morning. We 
got him to bed just in time." 

44 A curious fellow, Denby," said the landlord. 

4 4 He has been here often and I like him. The 
trouble is he likes drink too well for his good. ' ' 
He waddled off down the stairs, the wood creak- 
ing and groaning as if in pain at his every step. 

4 4 We '11 be ready for dinner whenever you 
are," Henry called down after him. 

44 'Twon't be long," laughed the landlord. 
4 4 Get yourselves warm." 

The boys already were removing their wet 
clothing as speedily as they could peel it off. 
Dripping coats, breeches and boots were 
strewn out before the open fires while the boys, 
stripped to the skin, were rubbing themselves 
46 


AT THE RED LION 


violently with coarse towels to revive their cir- 
culations and get the warmth back into their 
thoroughly chilled bodies. 

“A terrible day,” said John Ayres to Thomas 
Spencer, with whom he was sharing a room. 

4 ‘ Just the kind you predicted when we first 
talked of this trip I think.” 

4 ‘Worse I believe,” said John. 

“Oh well, it’s part of the game, and I think 
the weather will be fine to-morrow.” 

“The roads will not, but they are better this 
side of Elisabethtown than from here to New- 
ark I think. It would be disagreeable if we 
should lose our way though, wouldn’t it? On 
my way up we got off the road once and for a 
time every one was badly worried. Fortunately 
the woods were not very thick and we were not 
inconvenienced for long.” 

“One thing about this experience is that it 
proves the wisdom of the founders of the col- 
lege in planting an institution in the middle 
colonies.” Thomas held one end of his towel in 
each hand and rubbed his back furiously until 
he was quite out of breath. “Suppose you had 
been obliged to travel from Philadelphia to 
New Haven where Yale is situated, or on to 
47 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

Boston in order to attend Harvard, for in- 
stance, Under the most favorable conditions I 
doubt very much if you could make the trip 
from Philadelphia to Boston in much under 
two weeks, and it would probably take ten days 
to New Haven.” 

“ Quite true,” John agreed. “Nor would at- 
tendance at William and Mary in Virginia be 
any easier. The roads through Maryland are 
said to be atrocious. Mr. Leonard, a visitor at 
my father’s home last summer, had recently 
come over them and said that in many places it 
was impossible to average more than two miles 
an hour.” 

“That’s better than we did to-day, I fancy,” 
said Thomas, throwing down the towel and 
starting to put on his dry clothes. “Of course 
this was exceptionally bad weather and we had 
a drunken driver to boot. All of which doesn’t 
make for speed and is somewhat unusual.” 

“I grant you the weather was unusual,” said 
John, “but I can’t say the same about the 
driver. That’s a rather frequent occurrence I 
fear.” 

“The drinking in this country is terrible I’ll 
admit,” said Thomas. “I know that rum, 
48 


AT THE RED LION 


whisky, spirits of all kind, and beer and wines 
are consumed in all parts in almost incredible 
quantities. And most of the people seem to 
care far more for sport and pleasure and spend- 
ing money than for work and saving. I’ve 
heard more than one person say he thought the 
country was going straight to the dogs.” 

“I fear it myself,” John agreed soberly. 
“ However, it is for those of us who enjoy the 
benefits of higher education to set an example 
for the others. I believe that the benefits we 
receive carry with them responsibilities, that 
the man who really is educated recognizes this 
fact, and that all of us should remember always 
that we are under obligations which cannot be 
avoided.” 

“Sounds like a sermon,” laughed Thomas. 

“But isn’t it true?” 

“Of course it is. The more one has the 
greater his responsibilities. That’s always the 
case. You say rightly, too, that it is for the 
college-trained man to set an example for the 
others.” 

“By the way,” Thomas exclaimed a moment 
later, “the house in which the College of New 
Jersey was born is just across the field there. 
49 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

When to-morrow morning comes I ’ll point it 
out to you.” 

Some two hundred yards distant from the 
Red Lion Inn was the Presbyterian Church, 
and just beyond the church, separated from it 
by the burying ground, was the parsonage. This 
was the first home of the college. 

4 4 It hardly compares with Nassau Hall,” said 
Thomas. 4 4 But you have already seen the new 
college.” 

44 Yes, indeed,” said John. 44 It is wonder- 
ful. ’ ’ 

4 4 Who’s there?” exclaimed Thomas suddenly, 
turning towards the door. 

There was no answer. Voices could be heard 
in the neighboring bedrooms, for partitions of 
the inn were very thin and by no means sound- 
proof. From below floated the sound of con- 
versation in the taproom and the occasional 
snatch of a song, but no other noise of any kind 
was heard. 

44 I thought I heard some one outside the 
door,” said Thomas. 

4 4 Let’s investigate,” said John briefly, and 
walking over to the door threw it open. He 
stepped out into the hallway. 

50 


AT THE RED LION 

“What are yon doing?” he demanded. 

“Ssh.” 

Thomas threw his coat around him, took a 
lighted candle in his hand and followed John. 
There stood Hugh Harris, a bucket in his hand, 
and a sheepish look on his face as disclosed by 
the flickering candlelight. Hugh had drawn a 
room to himself, Henry Stirling and Samuel 
Pierson sharing the third one occupied by the 
coaching party. 

“Ssh,” repeated Hugh. “Come in here.” 

He stepped into the room where Thomas and 
John were quartered, waited for these two boys 
to follow him, and then shut the door. “What’s 
the matter with you, John?” he demanded. 
“You’ll spoil everything by so much noise.” 

“What are you planning to do?” John in- 
quired, puzzled. 

“This bucket,” said Hugh, “is full of water 
as you can see. My plan is to hang it over the 
doorway of the room occupied by Sam and 
Henry in such a manner that when one of them 
opens the door the bucket will be tipped over 
and the contents spilled on whoever is beneath.” 

“Is that a joke?” asked John coldly. 

“To any one with a sense of humor it is,”’ 

51 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING ' 

Hugh returned with asperity, plainly annoyed 
by the tone of John’s voice, and the frank look 
of disapproval on the countenance of both boys. 

“I reckon I have no sense of humor then,” 
said John. 

“Nor I,” Thomas chimed in. “You forget, 
Hugh, that both Henry and Sam have been soak- 
ing wet all day and have now changed to the 
only dry clothes they possess. To get them wet 
now would be unkind and unnecessary.” 

“Jokes are all right, Hugh,” said John, “but 
really this is scarcely the time for one like that. 
Don’t you think so?” 

Hugh’s face had turned a dull red. He looked 
sullenly at the floor and said nothing. His 
fingers twitched, however, and he shifted first 
from one foot, then to the other. His two com- 
panions looked at him curiously. 

“What’s the matter, Hugh?” asked Thomas 
kindly. “Are you mad at us?” 

“I’ve a good mind to douse the bucket on you 
two,” he cried suddenly and so fiercely that 
John and Thomas involuntarily drew back a 
step, amazed at this display of temper. 

“You think you’re better than I am for some 
reason,” Hugh continued. “What right you 
52 


AT THE BED LION 

have to think so is beyond me, but you seem to 
think so just the same. I’m getting tired of it, 
too. Take my word for it, all of you, that I’ll 
get even one of these days.” 

He flung open the door and threw himself 
out of the room. As he did so the bucket struck 
the door jamb and a portion of its contents 
splashed his right leg, drenching his breeches 
Teg and stocking from the knee down. John 
nor Thomas had any inclination to laugh, how- 
ever, but merely stood in silence until he had 
gone. Then John closed the door and turned 
to his companion. 

“Well?” he said. 

Thomas shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t 
know what’s the matter with him,” he said. 
“Hugh has always impressed me as an odd 
chap, but I never looked for an outburst like 
this. He acted ugly, didn’t he?” 

“Indeed he did. What’s more, I don’t think 
he meant the bucket merely as a joke. I’ve 
suspected for some time that he really dislikes 
Henry Stirling.” 

“You think so? Does Henry know it?” 

“I doubt it. Henry is too decent a fellow to 
suspect anybody of mean intentions or of dis- 
53 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


liking him. He’s fond of everybody himself, 
decent to everybody, and I don ’t believe he ever 
had a mean thought in his life. ’ y 

4 'Ought we to tell him of this, do you think ?” 

‘ ‘ I wouldn ’t, ’ ’ said J ohn. ‘ ‘ I may be entirely 
wrong, and there is no use in starting trouble 
if it can be avoided.’ ’ 

"It’s a curious thing,” said Thomas medi- 
tatively, leaning down to adjust his stock by the 
aid of a broken bit of mirror and the faint 
beams of the candle. 

At that moment the door across the hall 
opened and presently Henry and Sam appeared. 
Almost immediately the landlord’s bellowing 
voice was heard at the bottom of the stairs an- 
nouncing that dinner was ready. 

"He doesn’t have to tell me twice,” laughed 
Henry. "Let’s go down at once. Where is 
Hugh?” 

Thomas put on his coat and started after the 
others. "I think he has gone down already,” 
he said. 


54 


CHAPTER V 


AT BRUNSWICK 

The following morning they were on the road 
again. The rain had ceased, Denby was sober, 
but the roads were still seas of mud. The sun 
was scarcely over the rim of the horizon when 
they started, but the weather promised to be 
fair, and the spirits of the little party of stu- 
dents were high in spite of the bad condition of 
the road. That is with one exception. 

Sleepy-eyed stable boys had harnessed the 
horses to the lumbering stage. The landlord 
had come out to watch his guests depart, and 
call deep-voiced cheery good-byes to them, and 
urge them to come again. This they readily 
promised to do, and it was a pledge they meant 
to keep, for at that moment the savory odor of 
bacon was still in their nostrils, the taste of de- 
licious pancakes lingered with them, and the 
delightful memory of the duckling consumed the 
previous evening promised to remain for many 
a day. Their baggage was stowed away in the 
55 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

coach and they climbed to their places. Denby 
clucked to his horses and oil they started on the 
second stage of their journey to Nassau HalR 

The Elisabeth River caused them consider- 
able difficulty. As a result of the heavy rains 
the stream was swollen and the fording not 
only required caution and skill, but was danger- 
ous as well. Samuel Pierson and Henry Stirl- 
ing acted as postilions while crossing the stream 
and rode on the horses’ backs. In this way it 
was possible to guide and direct the nervous 
animals better than could have been done from 
the driver’s seat, and more than once this ar- 
rangement saved the coach from turning 
over. 

Progress was slow, but a brisk wind came up 
with the sun and helped greatly to dry out the 
ground, so that as the day wore on more speed 
was possible. Not great speed, however, for it 
was growing dark when they reached the east 
bank of the Raritan River. On the opposite 
side they could see the twinkling lights of the 
little settlement of Brunswick. 

“Had we better risk the crossing?” inquired 
Sam Pierson dubiously. 

“I’m in favor of it,” said John Ayres briskly. 

56 


AT BRUNSWICK 

“The Pouch and Horn is a good inn. Better 
than any on this side of the river. ’ ’ 

“What do you think, Denby?” asked Sam. 

“Whatever you say,” said that individual. 
He had been very meek all day, and eager to do 
anything suggested to him. Evidently he felt 
ashamed of his previous behavior and was 
eager to make amends. 

“Let’s try it,” said John. “Hail the ferry- 
man, Denby.” 

The ferry was a large barge propelled by 
sweeps, and at that moment was made fast to a 
stake driven into the mud on the river’s edge. 
The ferryman lived in a rough-boarded shanty 
close by, and in response to Denby ’s shout ap- 
peared in the doorway of his little house wip- 
ing his hands on a dirty towel. A bargain was 
made with him after considerable argument and 
presently the stage and horses, with Denby and 
his five passengers, were on the ferry making 
slow progress across the river. The horses 
were somewhat alarmed at finding themselves 
on board a boat, and one of the party was 
obliged to hold each animal’s bridle, to guard 
against the results of any sudden fright. A 
half hour was consumed in covering the quarter 
57 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

mile breadth of the river, but the passage was 
finally accomplished and a few moments later 
the coach was standing in the stable yard of the 
Pouch and Horn. 

4 4 To-morrow we reach Prince Town,” ex- 
claimed Henry Stirling enthusiastically. “I 
shall be greatly excited when we arrive at 
Nassau Hall, and give fair warning that I shall 
not be responsible for my actions.” 

The boys were seated in a half circle around 
the great fireplace in the main room of the inn. 
The November night was chilly and the warmth 
thrown out by the blazing logs was most wel- 
come to the tired and travel-worn students. 
The dancing light of the fire illumined the big 
room, its hand-hewn timbers, the sturdy chairs 
and tables, and the rifles, powder horns and 
trophies of the hunt with which its walls were 
hung. Everything suggested coziness and 
comfort. 

“The only trouble is,” Henry added laugh- 
ingly, “that when we arrive there it means 
work and study again. I’m not as fond of 
work as I might be. I like a good time pretty 
well.” 

“But you go to college to study and learn,” 
58 


AT BRUNSWICK 


John Ayres exclaimed. “The time for play is 
during vacation periods.” 

“You’re too serious minded, John,” said 
Henry. “I believe it is possible to play as you 
go along. It doesn’t pay to work too hard.” 

“Have you ever tried it, Henry?” inquired 
Thomas Spencer slyly, nudging Samuel Pier- 
son, who was seated next to him on a low 
wooden bench. 

“That’s a very personal question, Tom,” 
Henry responded with a laugh. “I don’t mind 
answering it, however. I did work hard for a 
whole week once and I didn’t enjoy it a bit.” 

“Weren’t the results satisfactory?” inquired 
John. 

“Oh, very,” replied Henry readily. “I got 
such satisfactory results that I nearly reached 
the decision that work was worth while, and it 
was a great temptation to continue. I resisted 
only with difficulty.” 

“Henry, you’re incorrigible,” exclaimed 
John, joining in the laugh which greeted this 
remark. “However, we may reform you yet.” 

“You may reform me so far as card playing 
is concerned,” Henry conceded. “The trouble 
with that is that it is very expensive, although 
59 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 

it has not proven so for you recently, has it, 
Hugh?” 

4 4 Where is Hugh ? ’ ’ asked Henry, as there was 
no reply to his question. 4 4 He was here a few 
minutes ago. I didn’t see him leave.” 

4 4 He went out,” said Samuel Pierson. 

4 4 There’s something the matter with Hugh,” 
exclaimed Henry. 4 4 He’s been so quiet lately; 
he scarcely says a word, and he certainly seems 
out of sorts about something. Why last evening 
in Elisabethtown I noticed that he had spilled 
water on himself and mentioned it to him. I 
spoke civilly enough, but instead of replying in 
the same manner he just growled at me and 
flung himself out of the room.” 

At that moment voices were heard outside and 
presently the door opened to admit two 
travelers, clad in riding costumes. They 
greeted the group around the fire with a shout 
of joy. 

4 4 Why it’s Ezra Whitaker and George Dodd,” 
exclaimed Thomas Spencer. He sprang to his 
feet and hurried forward to welcome the new 
arrivals. 4 4 Have you come all the way from 
Newark this morning?” he inquired. 

4 4 On horseback,” said George Dodd. 44 A 

60 


AT BRUNSWICK 

hard ride, too, for twice we lost our way in the 
woods this side of Elisabethtown, twice we 
thought travelers we met on the road were high- 
waymen, and when we finally reached the river 
here the ferryman refused to carry us across. 
It was really nothing less than bribery that in- 
duced him to change his mind.” 

“Did he tell you he had ferried us over a 
short time previous?” asked Henry. 

“He did,” said George. “That was the first 
question we asked him, and when we heard that 
you were here we felt as if we just had to get 
here, too.” 

“We can all travel together to Prince Town 
to-morrow,” cried John. “You and Ezra can 
go along as outriders.” 

“First of all we are interested in dinner,” 
said Ezra. “We are nearly famished.” 

He and George Dodd departed in search of 
the landlord. 

“We didn’t leave very much food in the 
house,” Henry called after them. 

“Oh, we can eat anything,” Ezra returned 
with a laugh. “Don’t worry about us.” 

“No doubt we’ll meet others of the college on 
the road to-morrow,” said Thomas. “More 
61 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

may even arrive here to-night. The landlord 
told me that Mr. Prime and six students were 
here this noon and went on after dinner.’ ’ 

“I doubt if any more come here to-night,” 
said Samuel. “The ferryman apparently is not 
in a mood to carry any one else across the river 
to-night.” 

“As a matter of fact, this might well have 
been the end of our journey if the citizens of 
Prince Town had not been more enterprising 
than those of Brunswick,” said Thomas. “At 
one time the trustees of the college had defi- 
nitely decided to locate the institution here, 
you know. ’ 9 

“So I’ve heard,” said John. “They didn’t 
live up to the conditions imposed when it came 
to a final decision, isn’t that it!” 

“Exactly. The trustees realized that New- 
ark was not the proper place for the college, 
and voted to locate it either here or at Prince 
Town. The conditions were that the inhabitants 
of Brunswick secure a thousand pounds to 
the college, and provide ten acres of cleared 
land, besides two hundred acres of wood land 
not more than three miles distant. Before the 
people here had a chance to act the inhabitants 
62 


AT BRUNSWICK 


of Prince Town made an offer. Mr. Sergeant, 
our treasurer, journeyed to Prince Town to 
view the site and after further meetings it was 
decided to locate there.” 

“Did the village authorities give the money 
and the land or was it done by individuals V ’ 
asked John. 

“Individuals, I believe. Mr. Nathaniel Fitz 
Randolph deeded the land to the trustees, upon 
which Nassau Hall and the President’s house 
are erected; that is, the college proper. Other 
individuals whose names I do not recall joined 
in donating the balance of the land required and 
the money.” 

“Pretty generous of them I should say,” said 
Henry Stirling. “I must say I admire gener- 
osity. ’ ’ 

“Of course it was generous of them,” Thomas 
agreed. “At the same time all of these gentle- 
men realized that it was good business. Locat- 
ing the college at Prince Town is bound to at- 
tract people there, more trade will be carried 
on and the town in general will prosper.” 

“Well I hope so,” said Henry. “I hope the 
college will prosper, too, and although I have 
never seen the town of Prince Town, I am glad 
63 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

we are going to be there rather than at 
Brunswick. ’ ’ 

“It would be most convenient to your home 
here,” said Samuel. 

“You’re always practical, aren’t you, Sam?” 
laughed Henry. “Yes, it would be convenient 
with Perth Amboy just down the river a few 
miles. I have often sailed up with my father. 
It is an easy trip and does away with the 
necessity of land travel. I sailed to New York 
once, too. No one from Perth Amboy ever 
thinks of going there by land ; it takes too long 
and the ferries across the Hudson River are 
scarcely safe I’ve heard.” 

The boys sat and talked until the fire burned 
low. Every one of them was sleepy and ready 
for bed, but lacking the ambition required to 
urge him from his seat and make a start. Pres- 
ently Ezra "Whitaker and George Dodd re- 
turned, and with them Hugh Harris. 

“Feel better?” demanded Henry of the 
horseback riders. “Where have you been, 
Hugh?” 

“We feel much better,” said Ezra, “but 
we’re ready for bed.” 

Hugh made no response to Henry’s question. 

64 


AT BRUNSWICK 


He sat down on the bench before the fireplace, 
shoved his hands into his pockets and thrust 
his feet out straight in the direction of the 
fire. His head was pulled down into his col- 
lar, and he lounged there, an indistinct figure 
in the semi-darkness. The dull glow from the 
dying embers disclosed only the vaguest out- 
lines of the little group. 

“I’m ready for bed too,” exclaimed Henry. 
He rose to his feet, yawned and stretched his 
arms high above his head. “Let’s get some 
candles and go up.” 

He took a step, tripped over Hugh Harris’ 
outstretched feet, fell heavily to the floor and 
rolled straight into the fireplace. 


i 


65 


CHAPTER VI 


PRINCE TOWN 

A cry of alarm greeted this unexpected acci- 
dent to Henry Stirling. With one accord every 
hoy in the group sprang to his assistance, and 
he was quickly dragged away from the fire- 
place. Hurry calls were sent for candles, and 
when the confusion had died down and lights 
were secured, Henry was laid out on the table, 
and an examination made of the extent of his 
injuries. He personally had made no outcry, 
but now he began to protest against the atten- 
tion being given him, maintaining stoutly that 
he was perfectly all right. His right sleeve, 
however, was covered with ashes and a strong 
odor of burnt cloth pervaded the room. It 
was further evident that his right hand had 
been badly burned, for in trying to protect him- 
self he had very naturally put out his hand, 
and had thrust it straight into the live coals. 

“He fell over your feet, Hugh,” exclaimed 
J ohn Ayres angrily. 


66 


PRINCE TOWN 


4 4 1 know that, ’ ’ Hugh returned. 4 4 You might 
think from the tone of your voice that you sus- 
pect me of tripping him deliberately. ’ 1 

4 4 Maybe you did, too,” muttered Thomas 
Spencer under his breath. 

The following morning the journey to Prince 
Town was resumed. The weather was fine, one 
of those golden November days common to New 
Jersey. The trees were a bouquet of red and 
yellow and brown, the sunlight was warm, and 
the sky cloudless save for two or three patches 
of white fleece drifting lazily across the blue 
dome of the heavens ; altogether a day to make 
one glad of life, and youth, and health. The 
party of students on their way to the new site 
of their college appreciated the fine weather 
fully, and were in the best of spirits. They 
sang, laughed, played jokes on one another and 
on Denby, and behaved generally as healthy 
young animals usually do. Ezra Whitaker and 
George Dodd rode beside the coach, or galloped 
on ahead and gathered applesi from the or- 
chards which lined the roadsides and tossed 
them up to their comrades on the coach. Every- 
where the farmers welcomed them, inviting 
67 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

them to take as much of the delicious fruit as 
they wished, for the trees were groaning under 
its weight, and the ground beneath was covered 
with it. It was a smiling land through which 
they passed, prosperous farms, cultivated fields, 
and woods mottled with the warm autumn sun- 
shine. 

Once Ezra and George, who had ridden far 
ahead, suddenly dashed out in front of the 
coach, their faces covered with handkerchiefs, 
and pretended to be highwaymen. They called 
upon the coach to halt, and its passengers to 
throw up their hands. Their voices were dis- 
guised and their coats turned inside out, but 
the riders on the stage recognized the horses, 
and pelted the false robbers so vigorously with 
apples that they were soon driven off. 

A stop for dinner was made at noontime, and 
early in the afternoon they came within sight 
of Prince Town. They dashed across the Mill- 
stone River at the little village of Kingston, 
turned to the left, and the hill on which Prince 
Town is situated came into view. John Ayres 
pointed it out, for he had passed over the Kings 
Highway on his journey from Philadelphia to 
Newark a few weeks previously, and the site of 
68 


PRINCE TOWN 

Prince Town had been indelibly stamped in his 
memory. It was greeted with a shout which 
made the occupants of a nearby farmhouse rush 
to the door in alarm. Braddock’s defeat the 
previous year was the subject of constant and 
nervous discussion all through the Colonies, 
and the settlers never felt absolutely secure 
from Indian attacks no matter in how thickly 
populated a section they dwelt. But in this case 
the farmer and his family quickly recognized 
the boys as students on the way to Nassau Hall, 
and greeted them with cheery shouts of wel- 
come. 

Denby whipped up his horses, and the old 
coach rocked and swayed, tossed first to one 
side and then to the other by the deep ruts and 
holes with which the road was lined and dotted. 
Even Henry Stirling forgot the pain in his 
right hand for the time being, _and joined in the 
celebration of his fellows. 

He had mentioned his hurt only when asked 
about it. Throughout the whole day he had had 
a smile for everybody and everything, and only 
a close observer could have detected a drawn 
look about his eyes which showed he was in 
pain. Hugh Harris had been more lively and 
69 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

cheerful than at any time since the journey 
had commenced ; particularly he was solicitous 
of Henry and kept inquiring constantly about 
the injured hand and whether he could do any- 
thing to alleviate the pain. John Ayres and 
Thomas Spencer, who had talked the matter 
over and had a strong suspicion that the acci- 
dent at the Pouch and Horn had not been en- 
tirely unintentional, were nonplussed by this 
change in the manner of the boy they suspected. 
As the hours went by they felt their suspicions 
disappearing, and really began to feel cha- 
grined that they had ever had any at all. 

‘ 4 Hugh must have been sick,” said Thomas. 
“No doubt that is what made him surly.” 

“Wouldn’t he have mentioned it!” asked 
John, a trifle dubiously. 

“Hugh is an odd fellow, you know,” said 
Thomas. “He keeps lots of things to himself. 
All poets are somewhat queer, I suppose.” 

They laughed, and put the whole thing out 
of their minds. They were arriving at Prince 
Town, at Nassau Hall, and that was all that 
mattered. They swept up the road past Castle 
Howard and the Greenland farm, and a few 
minutes later found themselves in the little 
70 


PRINCE TOWN 


village of Prince Town. Shady trees lined the 
broad street which led through the village, the 
Kings Highway, formerly the main Indian 
trail between the Hudson and the Delaware 
Rivers, over which the great chiefs were wont 
to lead their braves on their expeditions, peace- 
ful and warlike. 

“There is Nassau Hall,” cried John Ayres 
suddenly. 

On the left, its roof showing through the tree 
tops, they spied the new home of the College 
of New Jersey. It faced The Broad Street, and 
from its front entrance a path led down to the 
main thoroughfare. There was a projection 
in front extending three or four feet, a cupola 
surmounted the middle of the roof, it was three 
stories high, and built of stone. 

“Look at it,” exclaimed John enthusiasti- 
cally. “Look at it, and feel proud that you are 
privileged to live and study in such a place; 
the largest stone edifice in the British Colonies 
of North America. Stop the coach, Denby.” 

The boys stood on top of the coach and ad- 
mired the beautiful building, while George Dodd 
and Ezra Whitaker sat on their horses close by. 
The discussion of the building was punctuated 
71 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 

by long silences while the boys merely gazed at 
Nassau Hall so impressed by its imposing ap- 
pearance that they had nothing at all to say. 

Presently a robust-looking young man 
emerged from the front entrance and hurried 
down the path towards the coach. 

“Here comes Mr. Baldridge/ ’ exclaimed 
Henry. “No doubt he will direct us to our 
rooms. I wish I could see my old landlady, Mrs. 
Caxton, now. I’d like to show her my new 
abode and add a few more remarks to those I 
made to her when I left Newark.” 

Simeon Baldridge was the steward of the 
college. He was a young man, having only 
graduated from the College of New Jersey in 
1755, but his present position was an important 
one. His duty it was to supply food for the 
college, to collect the price of the food from the 
students who ate it, to collect tuition fees and 
room rent, pay the tutors their salaries, buy 
all the furniture and equipment, hire the ser- 
vants and send out the notices for trustees’ 
meetings. Through him the students bought 
their books. Now that the college had removed 
to Prince Town one of his most arduous duties 
was to be the guarding of the bell rope from 
72 


PRINCE TOWN 

mischievous students, though on this particular 
day he was happily unaware of this future diffi- 
culty. In fact if he had had even an inkling of 
the many and varied troubles which lay 
ahead of him it is questionable whether he 
would not have resigned his position then and 
there. 

“Welcome, gentlemen,” said Mr. Baldridge, 
and the boys all tipped their hats. “If you are 
ready I shall be happy to guide you to your 
rooms.” 

“Ready and eager, sir,” exclaimed Thomas 
Spencer. 

The five boys who had made the journey by 
stage climbed down into the dusty street with 
their luggage. Denby started for the inn to 
put up his horses and rest them preparatory 
to starting on the return journey to Newark the 
day following. George Dodd and Ezra Whi- 
taker went behind him to leave their horses 
and arrange for their care. 

“Regular college exercises will commence 
again to-morrow morning,” said Mr. Baldridge 
as they walked towards the building. “You 
have arrived in good time, but the last to get 
here I believe.” 


73 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

‘ ‘ Prayers to-morrow morning 1 ” asked 
Henry with a sigh. 

“And evening too,” Mr. Baldridge replied 
briskly. “Absence means a fine of two-pence, 
tardiness one penny.” 

“I know, I know,” said Henry. “You don’t 
have to tell me the rules. I suppose the presi- 
dent is sitting over there in his new house at 
this very minute trying to think up some more to 
add to the thousand or so we’ve got already.” 

“You are disrespectful,” said Mr. Baldridge 
tartly. “We have not got a thousand rules 
as you know full well, and you should not speak 
so of a man who is sick, sick as a result of work- 
ing too hard in the interests of the college.” 

“I meant no disrespect,” said Henry. “I 
admire President Burr greatly, but all the rules 
which obtain here I find very irksome at times.” 

“One of my duties is to enforce them,” re- 
sponded Mr. Baldridge with asperity. He felt 
the importance of his office keenly. 

“I appreciate that,” said Henry with a smile. 
“I hope our dealings will be on matters other 
than that of discipline.” 

“Complaining about the food, maybe,” said 
Sam Pierson slyly. Mr. Simeon Baldridge was 
74 


PRINCE TOWN 


about to comment forcibly on this remark, but 
they arrived at the entrance of Nassau Hall at 
that moment. A group of students, inside, 
catching sight of Baldridge immediately began 
to ply him with questions, all talking at once. 
The greatest confusion naturally resulted, and 
in desperation the distracted steward finally 
placed his hands over his ears, leaned back 
against the wall, and shut his eyes. 

“ Don’t throw that,” cried a voice sharply. 

Immediately Mr. Baldridge thrust his right 
arm in front of his face as a guard. Then he 
opened one eye half way, and peered cautiously 
at the half circle of faces grouped around him. 
A burst of laughter greeted this performance, 
for the harassed steward had plainly expected 
to be the object of physical attack. He had 
been frightened momentarily. Now he was 
angry. 

4 ‘ Stop laughing!” he shouted, his face purple 
with rage. 

Silence reigned in the entrance hall immedi- 
ately. Many a student was keeping quiet with 
the greatest difficulty, however, and only the 
most concentrated attention prevented more 
than one from breaking out again into loud 
75 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

laughter. Mr. Baldridge glared at the group 
of hoys angrily, turning his head slowly from 
side to side, peering intently at each student in 
turn. His face gradually turned from purple 
to white, his teeth were set tight, and his lips 
drawn and narrowed. 

4 4 No more of this nonsense,” he said finally, 
between clenched teeth. 4 4 I’m going to have 
order and respect here, and I want that under- 
stood now. Now ! ” he repeated savagely. 

He left his station against the wall and the 
line of students separated to allow him to walk 
out into the main hallway. There they fell in 
behind him. Some one 4 4 meowed ’ ’ like a cat and 
Mr. Baldridge spun around on the sole of his 
right foot, and once again he glared at the 
group of boys. Not a word was spoken, not a 
face showed the slightest evidence of guilt, and 
after a moment of tense silence he turned and 
proceeded on his way. 

4 4 We ’ll have some fun with him yet,” said 
Henry in a low voice to John. 

Henry Stirling and J ohn Ayres were to share 
the same room. Directly across the hall and 
opposite their door Thomas Spencer and 
Samuel Pierson were to live. Hugh Harris 
76 


PRINCE TOWN 


roomed next to them, alone, while Ezra Whi- 
taker and George Dodd were established a little 
farther down the hall. 

Mr. Baldridge came into the room with Henry 
and John. 

4 4 Some of these young men seem to think 
they can play fast and loose with me,” he said, 
his eyes snapping. “I’ll show them soon 
enough that I’m in charge.” 

4 4 Quite right, Mr. Baldridge,” Henry as- 
sented, though he found it possible to nudge 
John in the back as he said it. 44 I wouldn’t put 
up with discourtesy of any kind if I were in 
your place.” 

4 ‘I do not intend to,” the steward exclaimed 
decidedly. 44 I would appreciate it if you would 
give that message to whomsoever you see.” 

4 4 Delighted,” said Henry. 4 4 Aren’t these 
nice rooms?” 

4 4 Too good for students, I say,” said Bald- 
ridge peevishly. 

4 4 How many are there all together?” asked 
John. 

4 4 Sixty rooms in the building,” said Mr. 
Baldridge, who had a quick, nervous manner 
of speech. 4 4 Forty-nine of them for students 

77 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

and figuring three to a room that gives us ac- 
commodations for one hundred and forty-seven 
in all. You see we can double the size of the 
college. The other rooms are the library, din- 
ing room, refectory, and recitation rooms.” 

‘ ‘ Quite a large building, ’ ’ said Henry. ‘ 1 You 
must feel proud to be in charge of it. ’ ’ 

Mr. Baldridge gave Henry a sharp glance. 
Possibly he suspected from the tone of his 
voice that there might be a question in the 
mind of at least one student whether he was in 
control of its inmates, even if he was in charge 
of the building itself. 


78 


CHAPTER VII 


A POEM 

Henry Stirling was of a restless disposition. 
Studying was something which he said did not 
agree with him, and he often told his room- 
mate, John Ayres, that he felt he should 
always be extremely careful not to do too much 
of it. 

“It’s bad for a young man,” he exclaimed. 
“Sitting still and studying for such long 
stretches makes one nervous. I have to get up 
and walk around every few minutes.” 

“But we have plenty of time for exercise,” 
said John, glancing up from the copy of Gor- 
don’s “Geographical Grammar” lying open on 
the desk before him. It was evening, a short 
time after evening prayers. 

“Not so much,” said Henry. “Just think 
of it, we have to be in our rooms all the time 
except for a half-hour after morning prayers, 
an hour and a half after dinner, and from eve- 
ning prayers till nine o’clock. This having to 
79 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

go to bed at nine o’clock every night is also 
extremely irksome to me.” 

His roommate langhed. “But you never 
want to get up in the morning,” he said. 

“I’d be that way no matter what time I went 
to bed,” said Henry. “One of these nights I 
think I’ll just do something to the bell so it 
won’t ring when nine o’clock comes. Also, I 
have a scheme for getting out at night.” 

John swung around on his chair. “Look 
here, Henry,” he exclaimed earnestly, “you be 
careful. We’ve only been at Prince Town a 
month and already you’ve broken nearly every 
rule we have. You’ll be called before the trus- 
tees if you’re not careful, and you might even 
be suspended. What do your fines amount to 
so far?” 

“Oh, about thirteen shillings,” said Henry 
lightly. “I don’t mind them so much, and the 
college needs the money. Besides, I won thirty 
shillings the other evening from two of the sol- 
diers quartered in the town.” 

“There’s another thing,” said John. “If the 
college authorities find that you have been asso- 
ciating with that sort of people you’ll get in 
trouble as sure as you’re a foot high. You 
80 


A POEM 

should take your studies here more seriously, 
Henry. ’ ’ 

“Don’t you worry about me all the time,” 
said Henry with a laugh. “I think I can take 
care of myself without difficulty, and it dis- 
tresses me to have you so anxious when I do 
one of my silly things. I appreciate your in- 
terest, John, you know that.” He put his hand 
impulsively on his roommate’s shoulder. 

“But, Henry,—” 

Before John could finish what he had started 
to say there came a soft knock at the door. 
Henry turned and opened it. Thomas Spencer 
immediately entered, shut the door behind him, 
locked it, and stepped over to the desk 
where John was seated. His manner was mys- 
terious and his two friends watched him 
curiously. 

Thomas, chuckling to himself, drew a piece of 
paper from his breast pocket, unfolded it care- 
fully, and held it so that the candlelight shone 
upon the words written across it. “Are you 
busy?” he inquired. 

“Of course not,” said Henry. “What have 
you got?” 

“Ssh,” whispered Thomas. “Not a word.” 

81 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

“I only asked you a question/ ’ said Henry. 
‘ 4 What have you got?” 

4 ‘Promise never to tell?” 

“I’m going right over to President Burr’s 
now, and tell him I saw you going into a tavern 
the other day if you don’t hurry with what 
you’ve got there,” said Henry, pretending to 
be very serious. 

“You did not see me going into a tavern,” 
exclaimed Thomas, looking at Henry in alarm. 

‘ ‘ I know it, ’ ’ said Henry glibly. ‘ ‘ But you ’re 
so slow. I am consumed with curiosity to learn 
what is on that slip of paper. ’ ’ 

“A poem.” 

“One of your own?” inquired John. 

“That’s unlikely,” said Thomas, with a smile. 
“Did you ever hear of my writing poetry? No, 
this is some one else’s handiwork.” 

“Whose?” 

“There is no name signed; only initials.” 

“My, but you are exasperating,” exclaimed 
Henry. “Why do you insist upon all this mys- 
tery?” 

“No mystery, I assure you,” said Thomas. 

“All right then, tell us where you got this 

82 


A POEM 

poem, why it amuses you so much, and what the 
initials are.” 

“Sam Pierson found it lying on the floor in 
the gallery,” said Thomas. “Evidently it had 
been dropped there by mistake. Naturally he 
picked it up to see what it was, and then he 
brought it to our room and showed it to me. I 
felt that I must share it with you too.” 

“Do you know who wrote it?” John asked. 

“We suspect,” said Thomas dryly. 

“What are the initials?” 

“Let me read you the poem first, and then 
perhaps you can guess.” 

“I don’t care what you do so long as you 
do something,” cried Henry, pacing up and 
down the room. “I shall throw something at 
you in a minute . 9 9 

“Promise never to tell?” Thomas insisted. 

“ Yes, ” exclaimed Henry. “ I ’ll promise any- 
thing. ’ ’ 

“And I,” said John. 

“Listen then,” Thomas directed. He placed 
the candle on top of the dresser, held the slip 
of paper in his left hand, stood up straight, 
with his chest extended, and prepared to read. 
83 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

Then he rolled his eyes upward, threw a kiss to 
some spot on the ceiling, and sighed. 

The two boys watched him with keen amuse- 
ment. 

“The title of this poem is ‘Hope,’ ” Thomas 
announced. 

“Go on,” said Henry, and with a sweeping 
gesture Thomas began: 

“My love is fair, her voice is sweet, 

Her hands are white, her tiny feet 
Two twinkling carriers of joy 
That bear her up the village street. 

Her eyes are dark as some deep lake, 

Her lips two scarlet strips that make 
A young man mad in love with her 
Do desp’rate things for her dear sake. 

The hawthorn bloom is not more fair 
Than is her cheek ; her silken hair 
Is raven black and smooth and long 
And darker than the darkest night. 

She is all things a maid should be ; 

If she would share her life with me, — * 

But, ah, my aim is fixed so high 
That such a hope seems bold of me. 

And yet I hope.” 

At the conclusion of the reading Henry ut- 
tered a whoop of joy and clapped Thomas joy- 
84 


A POEM 

ously on the shoulder. “A marvelous poem,” 
he cried. “Who can the lady he?” Then he 
threw himself into a chair convulsed with laugh- 
ter. John was similarly affected. 

“Isn’t the sentiment beautiful?” asked 
Thomas in mock seriousness. 

“Absolutely wonderful,”’, said Henry. “I 
think the line I like best is ‘Do desp’rate 
things for her dear sake.’ It is so noble and 
brave.” 

“A remarkable poem in every way,” said 
John. ‘ ‘ The lady must be charming indeed who 
can inspire such ardent sentiments.” 

“I think I know her,” said Thomas. “You 
know her too.” 

“Absolutely wonderful,” said Henry. “I 
know any one whose feet are ‘twinkling carriers 
of joy,’ or whose ‘eyes are dark as some dark 
lake?’ The possessor of these charms must be 
as remarkable as the verse itself. WPat are 
the initials of the author?” 

“H. H.” 

“Hugh Harris, of course,” John exclaimed. 
“We might have guessed.” 

“Do you really think it is Hugh?” said 
Henry. 


85 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING' 

“No question about it in my mind,” said 
Thomas. “Certainly these are his initials and 
you know he is a poet.” 

“I knew he wrote verse, of course,” laughed 
Henry, “but I never realized before that he is 
a poet. You see I consider that there is a dis- 
tinction. 9 ’ 

“It is a cause for pride that we have so gifted 
a person living among us here,” said Thomas. 
“I think he should be suitably honored.” 

“How?” Henry leaned forward in his chair 
and began to run his fingers through his hair, 
a mannerism of his when especially interested 
in anything or excited. “Of course we can’t 
make use of this particular poem.” 

“Why not?” Thomas demanded, turning 
away from the window at the speaker. 

“It doesn’t belong to us,” said Henry. “As 
a matter of fact I feel sort of guilty at having 
read it. It’s almost like reading some one else’s 
private correspondence, and a gentleman 
doesn’t do that.” 

“But Sam found it lying on the floor,” said 
Thomas. “It was not sealed or signed and I 
think we were justified in reading it.” 

“Oh, I do too,” said Henry. “The trouble 
86 


A POEM 


is that now we know the author and we can’t 
take advantage of him. This may be a very 
serious matter for Hugh, and it would not be 
fair to expose him. The poem should be re- 
turned to him and nothing said about it to any- 
body.’ ’ 

“ Henry is right,” said John. “That is the 
gentlemanly thing to do. Sam found it and he 
should be the one to give it back.” 

“I suppose so,” said Thomas. “It seems too 
bad to have to forego such a fine opportunity 
for fun at Hugh’s expense though. He takes 
himself so seriously, and is so solemn that it 
would do him good if a little good-natured fun 
could be had with him.” 

“I agree with all of that,” said Henry. 
“Still Hugh is a good fellow at heart and this 
would be extremely embarrassing to him. At 
the same time I have to confess that I am glad 
of having had the opportunity to hear this won- 
derful expression of a young man’s love. ‘Do 
desp’rate deeds for her dear sake.’ ” He burst 
out laughing again. 

“Might we inquire the lady’s identity?” 
asked John. 

“Don’t you know?” exclaimed Thomas in 

87 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 

surprise. "I thought every one knew the ob- 
ject of Hugh’s tender affections.” 

6 ‘ There are so many of them,” laughed John. 
“It is difficult to keep count.” 

“True enough,” said Thomas. “But you 
know the Reverend Isaac Smith, our worthy tu- 
tor, I presume.” 

“Is it his daughter!” demanded Henry. 
“She is charming, I’ll admit. Only last week 
I had the honor of taking tea with her at her 
father’s home.” 

“Yes,” said Thomas, “and I understand 
from Ezra Whitaker that she considers you a 
very attractive young gentleman.” 

Henry blushed and laughed. “It is kind of 
her to say so,” he said, “but young ladies really 
have small place in my life. I had much rather 
pass my time in the company of men.” 

“I agree with that,” John exclaimed warmly, 
“and certainly no one can accuse Henry of be- 
ing a ladies’ man.” 

“I know it,” said Thomas. “Ezra said, 
however, that when Miss Smith made the re- 
mark Hugh was present and seemed consider- 
ably worried. Wkile walking back to Nassau 
Hall he mentioned the matter and tried to sound 
88 


A POEM 


Ezra out about Henry’s feelings towards the 
young lady. Evidently he considers you a 
rival.” 

“Very complimentary of him,” laughed 
Henry, “but he can put his mind at ease. I 
am no one’s rival in affairs of the heart.” 

“Well, it’s a grand poem anyway,” said 
Thomas. “I’m sorry we can ’t do anything with 
it, but your view of the matter is the correct one 
of course. ’ ’ He rose. 4 4 1 must be going back to 
my room now and will ask Sam to return it, and 
not to mention having seen it.” 

“Just a moment before you go, Thomas,” 
said Henry. ‘ ‘ Would you mind helping me with 
the translation of one short passage from 
Tully’s Orations? It is part of the assignment 
for to-morrow and has been giving me no end 
of trouble.” 

“Delighted,” said Thomas. 

At that moment the bell in the tower of Nas- 
sau Hall started to toll the hour of nine. 

‘ ‘ Better wait till morning, ’ ’ said J ohn. ‘ ‘ Old 
‘By’ Prime will be knocking at the door in a 
moment to see if we are in bed. If he discovers 
Thomas in here it may make trouble. He is 
getting exceedingly strict lately.” 

89 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

“ Quite right,” Henry agreed. “I’ll stop in 
your room the first thing in the morning, 
Thomas. Hurry along, I think I hear him com- 
ing down the gallery.” 

“I ’ll expect you the first thing in the morn- 
ing then,” said Thomas. “Good-night.” 

He opened the door into the hall quietly and 
slipped out. John blew out the candle and they 
sat in silence on the edge of the bed waiting un- 
til Mr. Prime should rap at their door and pass 
on. Across the hall they heard the click of the 
lock as Thomas entered his room, then coming 
nearer and nearer the soft knocks on the doors 
along the hall as the tutor went his rounds and 
made sure that the students had complied with 
the rule about being in bed by nine o ’clock. The 
deep-toned bell rang for the customary five min- 
utes and then was still. The moonlight shone 
in through the small-paned window, and its pale 
beams outlined a faint patch of yellow on the 
bare floor. Against the winter sky the tree tops 
without waved their bare branches, ghostly 
arms that seemed to be reaching up to pluck 
the glittering stars from the bosom of the 
heavens. 

“Take your feet off the floor, John,” whis- 
90 


A POEM 

pered Henry. “ Otherwise we’re on the bed, 
not in it.” 

There came a knock at the door. 

“In bed, sir,” said Henry. 

“Don’t forget to be on time for prayers to- 
morrow morning, Mr. Stirling,” said the well- 
known voice of Mr. Benjamin Y. Prime. 

“No, sir,” said Henry, and poked John in 
the ribs as he said it, causing that young man 
to utter a loud grunt. 

“What was that?” demanded the tutor. 

‘ ‘ I said I will surely be on time, ’ ’ said Henry. 

The tutor passed on and the two boys began 
to disrobe and prepare for bed. They did not 
run the risk of making a light, and adopted the 
further precaution of removing their shoes so 
that they might move about the room without 
making a noise. 

“That poke you gave me was nearly disas- 
trous,” said John. 

“I know it,” chuckled Henry. “I didn’t 
mean to be so violent. Old Prime thought one 
of us had said something to him, didn’t he?” 

“He’s suspicious always. I hope Thomas got 
back to his room safely.” 

“Oh, he did I’m sure. Prime was down the 

91 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

hall around the comer when r . mas left 
here.” 

“Sam can’t return the poem to Hugh to- 
night.” 

“No, it’s too late now. Maybe he’ll put it 
under his pillow and dream sweet dreams.” 
Both boys laughed softly. 

They tiptoed carefully about the room, hurry- 
ing as fast as they could, for it was a hard and 
fast rule that the last one ready for bed had to 
raise the window. On cold winter nights this 
was not always a pleasant duty, and the privi- 
lege of crawling in between the blankets before 
the cold blasts from without entered the room 
was one to be prized. Moreover, if the window 
had to be opened after the nine o’clock curfew 
bell had rung it was a particularly unpleasant 
task, for it had to be done silently lest the creak- 
ing of the sash inform one of the ever-watch- 
ful tutors that some one had not gone to bed on 
time and prompt an investigation. Raising the 
window silently required care and considerable 
time, and accordingly meant a thorough chilling 
on cold nights. 

John was the first one in bed this night, as 
usual. Only rarely did his roommate succeed 
92 


A POEM 


in transferring the duty of window raising to 
him. On this particular occasion, however, he 
minded the task not the least hit. The poem 
by Hugh Harris had amused him greatly and 
put him in excellent spirits, so that nothing 
bothered him. 

He got the window up without mishap, 
jumped gayly into bed and lay there chuckling. 

“ What are you so pleased about ?” demanded 
John. 

“I was thinking of the poem.” 

“You better stop thinking and go to sleep. 
You know what Mr. Prime said about being on 
time for prayers in the morning.” 

Henry ignored this admonition and continued 
to laugh softly to himself. “Isn’t it wonder- 
ful?” he said. 

John grunted sleepily. 

“ ‘Do desp’rate deeds for her dear sake,’ ” 
Henry quoted, and shook with silent laughter. 
“Isn’t that a wonderful line, John?” 

John made no answer. His deep and even 
breathing proclaimed the fact that already he 
was in the land of dreams. 


93 


CHAPTER VIII 


TROUBLE BREWING 

When John opened his eyes the following morn- 
ing he found that Henry was already awake, a 
most unusual occurrence. Most mornings it 
was necessary for him to pull the bedclothes en- 
tirely off the bed before his roommate could be 
persuaded to get up. This day, however, Henry 
was wide awake, and in high spirits. 

“ Still thinking about Hugh’s poetry, I sup- 
pose,’ ’ said John. 

“Iam.” 

“Well you better think more about Tully’s 
Orations and get Thomas to translate that pas- 
sage for you before it is too late.” 

“Right you are, John. In fact you’re always 
right.” He sprang out of bed, scampered over 
to the window, closed it and began to dress, 
whistling gayly all the while. Footsteps and 
voices could be heard in the halls now, for the 
occupants of Nassau Hall were early risers, and 
94 


TROUBLE BREWING 


were already astir. Another day was com- 
mencing at the College of New Jersey. 

In a few moments Henry was fully dressed 
and had gone across the hall to seek Thomas’s 
aid with the Latin translation which had caused 
him so much trouble. He found Thomas and 
Samuel Pierson, his roommate, partially 
dressed, and apparently in a desperate state 
mentally. They were down on the floor on their 
hands and knees, one peering under the bed 
the other looking under the washstand. Henry 
stopped short in the doorway and looked at 
them in amazement. 

‘ 4 What’s the matter?” he demanded. 

Thomas looked up. 4 ‘ Come in and shut the 
door,” he directed. 

“What’s the matter?” Henry repeated. 

Thomas looked at the door to be certain it 
was fastened. “We’ve lost the poem,” he said 
in a dismal tone. 

‘ ‘ Lost the poem ? ’ ’ echoed Henry. ‘ ‘ Where ? ’ ’ 

“If we knew that we’d know where to look for 
it,” muttered Sam, now on his feet examining 
the contents of the bureau drawers. 

“But I don’t see how you could lose it,” 
Henry exclaimed. “You most assuredly had 
95 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

it in your hand when you left our room last 
night. ’ ’ 

4 ‘I know it, and I thought I had put it in my 
pocket as I came across the hall. I heard Mr. ; 
Prime coming and I was in a desperate hurry., 
The only thing I can think of is that in the rush 
I didn’t get it safely into my pocket and it must 
have fallen to the floor of the hallway.” 

‘ ‘ Have you looked for it there?” 

“We have just come in. We had to get our 
lights out last night before Mr. Prime came 
along, and it never occurred to me that the poem 
was not in my pocket. But when I looked for 
it this morning it was gone. We have searched 
high and low without success.” 

“ You must have dropped it in the hall,” said 
Henry. 4 ‘ Some one has picked it up. ’ 9 

4 4 That’s what I think,” said Thomas. “If 
it were in the room here we could find it. I’m 
distressed about the whole circumstance.” 

“Maybe Mr. Prime found it,” Samuel sug- 
gested. 

“I hope he did,” said Thomas. “It would 
probably mean nothing to him, and very likely 
he would throw it away. If one of the students 
found it though he might not be so accom- 
96 


TROUBLE BREWING 


modating. It is not probable either that he 
would be as considerate of Hugh’s feelings as 
we are. Suppose he should recognize Hugh as 
the author and expose him; I would feel as if it 
were my fault.” 

“No reason for feeling that way,” said 
Henry. “I’ll grant you it’s unfortunate, but 
you are not to blame. Hugh lost it himself to 
begin with, and it is bad luck for him if he has 
an unfortunate experience as a result of his 
carelessness. But the fault most certainly is 
not yours.” 

“You are very cheering, Henry,” said 
Thomas. “I hope that whoever finds it will 
recognize that it is a personal thing and will 
return it if he knows the author, or destroy it 
if he does not.” 

“I can’t think there is any one here who 
would disclose the author if he knew him,” said 
Samuel. “None of us would.” 

“Forget about it, Thomas,” Henry advised. 
“The important thing at the present moment 
is Tully’s Orations. Latin not silly poetry is 
what we are interested in.” 

Thomas took the book from Henry. He was a 
skilled Latin student, having commenced his 
97 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

study of the language at an early age under the 
tutelage of his father, a minister widely known 
for his knowledge of the Classics. He read the 
troublesome passage for Henry with only the 
slightest hesitation. It was fortunate for 
Henry, too, that his friend did translate Latin 
so easily, for he had scarcely finished when the 
bell started to ring, summoning the students to 
morning prayers. 

The boys hurried downstairs to the room used 
for the purpose of worship and took their places 
with their classmates. President Aaron Burr 
was in his accustomed place on the platform and 
conducted the service, which was opened with a 
prayer. A reading from the Scriptures fol- 
lowed, the story of Joseph and his brothers dur- 
ing the great famine in Egypt. This story al- 
ways appealed strongly to Henry and he had 
the greatest admiration for the character of Jo- 
seph, whose conduct at that time proved him, 
in the young man’s estimation, the most perfect 
type of gentleman. The service concluded with 
the singing of a hymn. 

Breakfast was the next thing on the day’s 
calendar. The students assembled in the re- 
fectory, and sat by classes, at least the Seniors 
98 


TROUBLE BREWING 


and Juniors were placed at the large head table, 
the Sophomores and Freshmen at the lower 
table. Thin gruel was served, followed by semi- 
stale black bread and thick, dirty-looking coffee. 
As usual these unappetizing articles of food 
were greeted by the students with exclamations 
of indignation. 

“Food for savages and swine,’ ’ cried Ezra 
Whitaker angrily. “How any one can expect 
self-respecting students to stomach such vile 
stuff is beyond my comprehension.” 

“Why don’t you tell Mr. Baldridge about 
it?” asked Henry. “He is the steward.” 

“I did tell him, only yesterday.” 

“With no good result,” said Henry with a 
laugh. 

“Look at it,” cried Ezra. “Just look at this 
liquid he calls by the name of coffee. Made out 
of oak leaves and mud is my guess. The bread 
is sour and the main ingredient of the gruel is 
some substance inferior to sand.” 

“I wish you were the steward, Ezra,” said 
Hugh Harris, winking at Henry, who was seated 
opposite him at the table. “You’d furnish us 
with food that is fit to eat, I’m sure.” 

“Perhaps we can get him appointed,” 

99 


'A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

laughed John. “I hesitate to complain to Mr. 
Baldridge, but I assure you Pd have no such 
hesitancy if Ezra were the person responsible. ’ ’ 

Ezra, however, was in no mood for levity. 
He muttered imprecations under his breath and 
was not to be lured into smiling by the banter 
of his friends. “IPs disgraceful,’ ’ he ex- 
claimed. 4 ‘ I don ’t see how any one can consider 
it in the light of a joke. Even such a stupid lot 
as you all are,” he added. 

A loud laugh greeted this outburst, and 
naturally did not tend to soothe Ezra’s ruffled 
feelings. He lapsed into silence, sat quietly at 
the table for a few moments without speaking, 
and then pulled his geographical history out of 
his pocket and began to study. The others, see- 
ing that he was really angry, left him alone, 
and general conversation lagged perceptibly. 

This quiet was short-lived. George Dodd, 
who was sitting alongside Henry, suddenly ut- 
tered an exclamation and sprang to his feet. 
From his pocket he drew a piece of paper, and 
with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, 
Henry recognized it as the one Thomas had 
dropped in the hall the previous evening. 
George was planning to read the poem before 
100 



‘Gentlemen,” George announced, “I have a rare treat in 

store for you” 






































'Y Krg 99 I ■ f "V. • 
















TROUBLE BREWING 


the whole table, that was evident. What could 
he do to prevent him? He half rose from his 
seat and made as if to snatch the paper from 
George ’s hand. Then the thought flashed 
through his mind that it might look as if he 
knew too much about the poem ; he hesitated and 
sat down again. By that time it was too late. 

“ Gentlemen, ’ ’ George announced, “I have a 
rare treat in store for you.” 

The eyes of every one at the table were on 
the speaker now. Plainly any opportunity for 
stopping him had passed. Henry sank low into 
his chair, and blushed to the roots of his hair 
as he thought of how Hugh would feel. He 
glanced at Thomas and saw distress deeply 
marked on his countenance ; J ohn was wriggling 
uncomfortably on his chair, while Samuel Pier- 
son was trying to eat unconcernedly and give 
the appearance of not being interested. Henry 
looked at Hugh, and saw him start suddenly, as 
he recognized what it was that George held; 
then his face grew pale, and he gripped the 
edge of the table until his fingernails showed 
red and white. Henry’s heart bled for him. 

“Hear, hear,” cried somebody. 

“A poet is in our midst,” said George. “I 
101 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

may even say a great poet; not of the epic 
variety of Homer and Virgil perhaps, but a poet 
who writes verse fairly oozing with love, whose 
lofty and tender sentiments have, I do not hesi- 
tate to say, never been surpassed since verse 
has been employed for the expression of human 
emotions.’ ’ 

“Hear, hear,” shouted the students gleefully. 

“Who is this great poet?” somebody in- 
quired. 

“Read the poem,” cried another. 

George held up his hand for silence. “You 
are impatient,” he said. “It is commendable in 
you to show such an interest in the discovery 
of so brilliant a luminary. It shows you have 
a place in your hearts for the great things of 
this world. But I tell you you have not the 
slightest inkling of the treat in store. Only 
the words of another poet, one equally gifted, 
could do it justice, and I state with confidence 
that there is no such paragon alive.” 

“Hear, hear,” shouted the students again, as 
George paused for a moment. They were sit- 
ting forward on their chairs expectantly, en- 
joying the proceedings with the keenest relish. 

Henry looked at Hugh again. The unfortu- 

102 


TROUBLE BREWING 


nate author of the poem had turned a sickly 
green and sunk back into his seat a picture of 
utter despair and despondency. His mouth was 
twisted into what evidently was intended for a 
smile, but he was a poor actor, and if he was 
endeavoring to appear unconscious and uncon- 
cerned he would not have succeeded in deceiv- 
ing any one who took the trouble to look at him 
closely. Henry felt sorrier for him than he had 
ever felt for any one in all his life. And yet 
he was fascinated by the look on Hugh’s face. 

It is said that if you stare at a person hard 
enough and concentrate all of your attention on 
him you can make him look at you. This was 
not what Henry was trying to accomplish, but 
presently Hugh took his eyes off George and 
looked straight at Henry. It was unexpected 
and disconcerting, and took Henry by sur- 
prise. He flushed a deep crimson as their 
eyes met. 

Immediately a change came over Hugh. He 
glanced at George and then back at Henry, and 
the look on his face altered. Color came back 
to his cheeks, his eyes took on a steely glint, and 
he sat up on his chair and leaned forward the 
way the other students were doing. Henry was 
103 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

embarrassed and uncomfortable, ill at ease and 
self-conscious.; He beard George reading tbe 
poem and bis voice sounded miles away, and 
somehow seemed unreal.; 

“My love is fair, my love is sweet.” 

be beard, as if in a dream.; He looked at tbe 
faces around tbe table, glanced at George, wbo 
was proceeding gayly with tbe reading of tbe 
poem. Then be stole another look at Hugb. : 
As be did so be caught tbe young “poet” just 
turning bis eyes away from him, and be felt 
more uncomfortable than ever.; Why be should 
feel that way be did not understand, and it made 
him angry. Then be beard George read tbe 
line, 

“Do desp’rate things for her dear sake,” 

and in spite of himself be laughed. Tbe mem- 
ory of that line was too much for him. He 
hated himself for having given way to merri- 
ment at what be considered such a really tragic 
time, but be positively could not help it. Then 
he saw Hugh looking at him again, and as Hugh 
saw the amusement on his face be turned a dull 
104 


TROUBLE BREWING 

red, his mouth gathered hard lines about it, and 
his fingers resting on the table twitched 
nervously. 

“He thinks I’m responsible,” muttered 
Henry to himself. 

He glanced around the table, which was now 
in an uproar. Cheers and shrieks of delight 
greeted the end of the poem, the students 
clapped, stamped their feet on the floor and 
whistled. True, this celebration did not last 
long, for the tutors soon called for quiet, and 
though the noise was slow in subsiding, com- 
parative order was restored eventually. The 
meal ended, the students trooped out of the re- 
fectory and went to their rooms. With few ex- 
ceptions they were in high spirits, and enjoying 
to the full the poem which George Dodd had 
read to them. The exceptions, of course, were 
the author, and the boys who knew he was the 
author. 

“Wasn’t it awful!” whispered John to 
Henry as they filed out. 

“Tragic,” said Henry shortly. He was in 
no mood to discuss the matter. He felt so sorry 
for Hugh, and then the thought that he was sus- 
pected of having put George up to reading the 
105 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

poem before the assembled student body was 
perhaps still more distressing. He looked 
around to see if Hugh were near. He wanted 
to explain everything to him, tell him how badly 
he felt, and assure him of his deep sympathy. 
But Hugh was not to be seen. 

Henry and John went up to their room, and 
were joined a moment later by Thomas Spencer 
and Samuel Pierson. It was their half-hour 
rest period. 

“Well,” said Thomas. 

He threw himself into a chair and, resting his 
elbows on his knees, placed his head in his 
hands and stared at the floor. 

“Poor Hugh,” said John. 

“Yes,” exclaimed Thomas, “and it is all my 
fault. I had no business bringing the poem 
over to this room last evening. If I had re- 
turned it to its owner, as I should have done, 
this would never have happened.” 

“That was for me to do,” said Samuel. “It 
was I who found it originally and who should 
have returned it to Hugh. I am the one who 
is to blame.” 

“There is no use in talking this way, either 
of you,” said John. “The whole affair is very 
106 


TROUBLE BREWING 


distressing, of course, but you are not to blame. 
It is George Dodd, who has played a mean trick 
on Hugh.” 

“Do you think he knew Hugh was the 
author ?” asked Thomas. 

“I can’t say. He must have known that the 
verses were written by some one of the students 
here though, and he had no right to read them 
publicly, and especially to make such a joke out 
of the performance. It was cruel and he ought 
to have known better.” 

“I agree with that,” said Samuel earnestly. 
“None of us here would have done such a thing, 
I am sure.” 

“What do you think about it, Henry?” John 
inquired. “You’re sitting over there in the cor- 
ner as glum as an old owl.” 

Henry looked up. “I scarcely know what to 
think,” he said. “I feel terribly sorry for 
Hugh, for it is bound to leak out sooner or later 
that he is the author. I am also sorry because 
he thinks I put George Dodd up to reading 
them.” 

His three companions looked at him in amaze- 
ment. “Wliat do you mean!” they demanded 
almost with one voice. 

107 


A PEINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

“ Just what I say,” said Henry with a wist- 
ful smile. “He blames me, that’s all.” 

“Explain yourself,” cried John. “Surely 
you must be mistaken.” 

Henry told of the look he had seen on Hugh’s 
face at breakfast, of the way he had acted, of 
his own inexplicable embarrassment, and his 
firm conviction that he was the one Hugh sus- 
pected. His companions said nothing for a mo- 
ment. 

“It doesn’t seem credible,” said Thomas 
finally. “Certainly no one who knows you 
would suspect you of so mean a trick.” 

“Hugh is peculiar though,” said John, after 
a short silence, ‘ ‘ and he seems to have a dislike 
for Henry for some reason. Maybe he really 
does think you’re a rival for Miss Smith’s af- 
fections.” 

“That’s it, of course,” exclaimed Samuel. 
“That probably explains why he has seemed to 
go out of his way to be disagreeable to Henry 
all along. It might also have something to do 
with Henry’s fall into the fireplace at the Pouch 
and Horn last autumn. ” He sprang to his feet. 

“No,” said Henry earnestly. “I don’t be- 
lieve that and you mustn’t either. Hugh has 
108 


TROUBLE BREWING 

acted queerly towards me I’ll admit, but if it is 
anything more than imagination it surely can’t 
be due to my being a rival of his. That is sheer 
nonsense.” 

“Why not go and tell him so?” said John. 
“Clear things up right away.” 

“Exactly what I had in mind doing,” said 
Henry. “I’ll go at once.” 

He started for the door, but before he could 
reach it it was thrown open and Hugh Harris 
entered. He was white-lipped and pale and 
his eyes glittered with an unnatural light. He 
swept the four boys already in the room with 
a swift glance, and then his gaze rested . on 
Henry. He advanced a step towards him, then 
stopped short, breathing hard. 


109 


CHAPTER IX 


AN ACCUSATION 

There was a tense silence in the room. All 
eyes were upon Hugh, who stood with his head 
held high, hands tightly clenched by his side, 
pale, thin-lipped, his chest heaving with sup- 
pressed emotion. The four other boys in the 
room looked at him fascinated, spell-bound al- 
most, unable apparently to do anything or say 
anything. They knew why he was there. They 
knew the false suspicions rankling in his mind, 
and they wanted to tell him the truth, to explain 
to him the whole unfortunate matter, but their 
tongues seemed tied to the roofs of their mouths. 
Their throats were parched, their power of 
speech gone glimmering. 

Hugh himself, now that he was face to face 
with the one he suspected of being the cause of 
his mortification, seemed to have lost the power 
to say what he had come there to say. He swal- 
lowed hard, his mouth opened, but no words is- 
sued forth. The silence continued tense and 
unbroken. 


110 


AN ACCUSATION 


Henry, a picture of abject misery, stood with 
his back to the window, his hands gripping the 
sill. The only feeling he had was one of pity 
for Hugh. He was not angry that this boy, with 
whom he had tried to be friendly and who had 
always resented his advances, suspected him of 
a mean trick. His conscience was clear, so far 
as that went. But he wanted every one to like 
him, not because he desired popularity, but be- 
cause he had only feelings of friendship for his 
fellow students and was possessed of the not 
unnatural desire to have these feelings recipro- 
cated. What was more, it was no part of his 
nature to be suspicious of other people, and 
it was a hard blow for him to realize that he was 
the object of suspicion himself. 

“Hugh, — ” he said. 

The silence was broken. Immediately Hugh 
found his tongue. The color flamed into 
his face, and then receding, left him paler 
than before. He threw his right arm for- 
ward and pointed an accusing forefinger at 
Henry. 

“You low, dirty scoundrel,” he cried. “What 
do you mean? What do you mean?” He 
paused, choked by the rush of his emotions. 

Ill 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

Henry drew back and winced as if be bad been 
struck. Before be could say anything Hugh 
burst forth again. 

“You put George Dodd up to that,” be al- 
most shouted. “You knew that was my poem., 
You thought it would be sport to expose me 
before the whole college, you hound. For a long 
time you’ve plotted something like this. Don’t 
deny it,” he cried as Henry made as if to speak. 
“Don’t deny it. You know it’s true. I know 
your motives, too, and like you they’re cow- 
ardly. I’ve been aware of what you were try- 
ing to do for a long time, but I did think there 
was enough decency in your mean hide to pre- 
vent your dragging a lady into it. You’re al- 
ways boasting that you’re a gentleman.” He 
brought his clenched right fist down upon the 
open palm of his left hand. i ‘ After what you ’ve 
done this morning I hope you’ll never make any 
false claims to that title again, for God knows 
you have no right to it.” 

Henry remained leaning against the window 
sash. His look never wavered from Hugh’s 
face, and he seemed scarcely to wink. The three 
other boys had not moved since Hugh’s entrance 
into the room; the drama being acted before 
112 


AN ACCUSATION 


them held them breathless, fascinated, stunned. 
Each one of them resented with all his soul the 
false accusations being made against their 
friend, the lovable boy who they knew had not 
a mean speck in his body. And yet they were 
too overcome by the whole proceeding to offer 
any open protest.; 

“ Where did you get that poem anyway ?” de- 
manded Hugh, his voice rising higher and 
higher. “ Where did you get it, I say? You 
stole it from my desk, you snooping dog, that’s 
where you got it. You sneaked into my room 
like a common thief and stole it. Then, afraid 
to read it yourself, you got some one else to do 
it for you. Not only a thief, but a coward. You, 
who hang around with common soldiers, and the 
swine who frequent the ale houses. A good-for- 
nothing thief, and a coward ! 9 1 

“Hugh,” said Henry in a low voice, “you’re 
beside yourself. You don’t realize what you 
are saying.” 

“Oh, yes, I do,” Hugh fairly shouted. “I 
realize exactly what I’m saying. I’m calling 
you a dog and a coward and a thief. And what’s 
more every name of them applies to you. Can 
you deny that you ever saw that poem before 
113 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


this morning? That is, can you deny it and tell 
the truth ?” 

“No,” said Henry, “I can’t.” 

“You hear?” demanded Hugh shrilly. “He 
admits he saw it before, and that proves that 
everything I have said is true. Not that I 
needed any proof. His own face at breakfast 
was as clear a confession of guilt as any one 
could wish.” 

“Let me explain,” said Henry, still in the 
same low voice. 

“Explain nothing!” shrieked Hugh. “Ex- 
plain why you’re a thief and a scoundrel and a 
coward? The explanation is that you are those 
things, that’s all.” 

“Listen to me, Hugh,” said Henry, and his 
voice was harder than it had been, though he 
evidently was trying desperately to control it. 
“You are beside yourself. You don’t realize 
what you are saying.” 

“You told me that a moment ago,” sneered 
Hugh. 

Henry ignored the interruption. “You have 
accused me of a lot of things that no gentleman 
stands for ordinarily. You suspect me of be- 
114 


AN ACCUSATION 


ing responsible for what happened at break- 
fast this morning, and possibly there is some 
reason why suspicion should point to me. Cer- 
tainly you think there is. I did see that poem 
last night, but if youTl let me explain the cir- 
cumstances to you, I think you’ll understand 
that I had nothing to do with the performance 
this morning.” 

‘ 1 That’s right, Hugh,” Samuel Pierson inter- 
posed. “Let him explain.” 

“You keep out of this,” cried Hugh savagely. 
“It’s none of your affair.” 

“Wait, Sam,” said Henry, holding up his 
hand and looking at Samuel appealingly, for 
that hot-blooded young man was starting for 
Hugh with clenched fists and eyes blazing. Sam 
subsided. 

“I can’t explain everything about this busi- 
ness,” Henry continued, turning to Hugh once 
more, “but I can tell you what I know about 
it, and if you’ll just believe me I can readily 
convince you that I am entirely innocent.” 

“You can’t convince me of anything,” said 
Hugh contemptuously, “because I wouldn’t be- 
lieve you under oath. If you want me to speak 
115 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

more plainly I don’t mind saying that in addi- 
tion to all those other things I consider you a 
damned liar.” 

Henry caught his breath sharply and stood 
up straight. Thomas, Samuel and J ohn watch- 
ing him, their hearts pounding, their breath 
coming in quick gasps, saw the lines around his 
mouth harden, his jaw set, his nostrils distend 
themselves, and his eyes flash with a steely- 
green light. Hugh stood stock-still in the 
center of the room, white-lipped and still. 

“Hugh,” said Henry in a voice that was 
scarcely above a whisper and yet which seemed 
to thunder in the ears of the occupants of the 
room, “no man alive can call me a liar and not 
apologize or fight.” He took three steps for- 
ward and stood facing Hugh, an arm’s length 
away. 

A cardinal bird practiced his coaxing song in 
a tree outside the window, students laughed and 
talked in the hallway, but in this particular 
room of Nassau Hall these sounds were not 
noticed. The drama had reached its climax, and 
nothing else was of interest. 

“I will not apologize,” said Hugh evenly. 

Quick as a flash Henry raised his right arm 
116 


AN ACCUSATION 


and with the palm of his hand slapped Hugh 
full in the face. 

At that moment the hell in the tower started 
to ring. The half-hour period was over, and 
recitations were commencing again. Thomas, 
John and Samuel crowded forward, interposing 
themselves between Hugh and Henry. 

‘ ‘ This can’t be settled here,” cried Thomas. 
“ Later.” 

“Stony Brook, by the road past the Quaker 
Meeting House at half-past three this after- 
noon,” said John. “How will that do?” 

“Suits me,” said Henry shortly. 

“And me,” said Hugh. He turned and 
passed out of the door, a red splotch showing 
on his left cheek. 


117 


CHAPTER X 


BY STONY BROOK 

Henry Stirling did not distinguish himself in 
the class-room that day. Try as he would he 
could not concentrate his mind on his studies. 
Even in Ontology, his favorite study and the 
only one in which he was regarded by his 
teachers as really proficient, he failed badly. 
The passage from Tully’s Orations, which 
Thomas had translated for him that morning 
and which he thought he knew perfectly, was a 
complete mystery to him when he was called 
upon to render it. Logic was beyond his powers 
of comprehension, and the subject of As- 
tronomy seemed as far removed from him as 
the stars themselves. 

His mental state was a natural one under 
the circumstances, but not one he could very 
well explain to the tutors. They had never 
thought much of Henry’s abilities as a student 
and failed to understand why a boy at college 
should seem to prefer play to work. Many a 
118 


BY STONY BROOK 


time, individually and collectively, they had told 
him as much. Only two days previously Mr. 
Smith had warned him that unless he showed 
marked improvement he would be obliged to re- 
port the matter to President Burr. 

Henry intended to work, he tried hard to 
study, but somehow his mind would wander 
away from his books. The pages of a Greek 
text spread open before him would always grow 
blurred after a little time, and he would find 
himself thinking of some shady brook, or the 
cool quiet of the woods and the song of birds, or 
of some fine dog he had observed recently. He 
loved Nature and he loved all animals ; once he 
had fought for nearly an hour with a stable boy 
he had found abusing a kitten. Mixed with his 
love of Nature and animals was a curious liking 
for strange sorts of people. Hugh had accused 
him of associating with soldiers and the fre- 
quenters of ale houses. This was true. He did 
associate with such people and frankly enjoyed 
their company. “The only people I know who 
act naturally,” was the way he described them 
to John Ayres, his roommate. When John had 
protested that they were coarse and not gentle- 
men, Henry admitted it freely. But they inter- 
119 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

ested him, he said, and he, therefore, continued 
to seek their company. There were many sol- 
diers quartered in Prince Town in those days, 
men engaged in the French and Indian Wars, 
and Henry enjoyed especially their accounts of 
the campaigns in which they had participated. 

To-day he was not thinking of these things, 
however, any more than of lessons. His affair 
with Hugh Harris occupied practically all of 
his thoughts. As he sat in the Latin class and 
looked at Mr. Smith he wondered if that learned 
man who talked on and on about the subject 
they were studying realized that a member of 
his own family was responsible for his poor 
recitation. True, Miss Smith was an innocent 
cause of the trouble, but none the less the 
trouble could be traced directly to her. Henry 
was too polite to wish even to himself that she 
was on the other side of the earth, but he did 
wish that Mr. Smith’s children had been two 
boys instead of two girls. 

Noon time came at last, and with it dinner. 
The meal was a trying one for Henry; Hugh sat 
opposite him again and it was a trial to keep 
from looking at him. Moreover, the situation 
was made more difficult by the fact that a num- 
120 


BY STONY BROOK 

ber of the students did not hesitate to tax Hugh 
with the authorship of the poem. It was in- 
evitable that the initials, “H. H.,” with which 
it was signed should be traced to Hugh, and 
that some of the boys should consider it amus- 
ing to tease him about it. Hugh paid no atten- 
tion to them, however. He ate his meal in glum 
silence, paying strict attention to his food and 
noticing nothing else. George Dodd was not 
present at dinner. John Ayres had tried to 
find him during the morning and get him to 
explain how he came by the poem and perhaps 
thus avert the fight scheduled for that after- 
noon. Immediately after breakfast, however, 
word had come to George that his father in 
Trenton had been suddenly taken ill. He had, 
therefore, obtained permission to visit him, and 
had left town. 

“It wouldn’t have done any good anyway,” 
said Thomas. “Hugh called Henry a liar and 
that is what the fight’s about.” 

c ‘But Hugh might have apologized.” 

Thomas merely shrugged his shoulders. 

At three o’clock that afternoon Henry walked 
out of Nassau Hall in company with John 
Ayres, Samuel Pierson and Thomas Spencer. 

121 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


The four boys turned west when they came to 
The Broad Street and started in the direction 
of Stony Brook, about a mile distant. The day 
was warm for that season of the year and the 
suit was shining brightly. A few patches of 
snow still remained in the well-shaded spots, but 
these last vestiges of winter were fast disap- 
pearing. 

They talked but little as they walked. There 
were but few people on the street. They tipped 
their hats to President Burr, who was looking 
out from the study window of his new home ad- 
joining Nassau Hall. They passed the house of 
Mr. Fitz Randolph, with its little burying 
ground in the rear, and further on, on the op- 
posite side of the highway, “Morven,” the 
home of Mr. Richard Stockton, one of the 
trustees of the college and a member of the first 
class to graduate, when the college was located 
at Elisabethtown. He was out in front of his 
charming new home as the boys went by, in- 
specting a row of catalpa trees he had recently 
had set out. A quarter of a mile beyond his 
house the road dipped and the willows mark- 
ing the course of Stony Brook came into view. 
Coming to the brook they turned to the left by 
122 


BY STONY BROOK 


Bruyere’s Mills and followed it a quarter of a 
mile until they reached an open space, from 
where the outlines of the little Quaker Meet- 
ing House could he dimly seen through the trees. 

“A queer place for a fight,” said Samuel, 
“in hack of a meeting house dedicated to wor- 
ship by people who believe so strongly in 
peace.” 

“As good a place as any,” muttered John. 
“I don’t believe in fighting myself.” 

Henry looked at him sharply. ‘ ‘Under no cir- 
cumstances?” he asked. 

“Under some circumstances there seems to 
be no other course, ’ ’ said J ohn. ‘ 6 This I regard 
as one of them.” 

“God knows I don’t want to fight,” said 
Henry bitterly. “The whole thing nauseates 
me, but what else can Ido?” He faced his three 
companions and spread his arms out to them 
appealingly. ‘ ‘ There are some things a gentle- 
man just can’t stand for, that’s all.” 

“Of course,” exclaimed John. “And you 
know we’re with you heart and soul, don’t 
you?” 

“Certainly I do,” said Henry. “What time 
is it?” 


123 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


Thomas consulted his watch, a prized posses- 
sion bequeathed to him by his grandfather. 
“Twenty-five minutes after three,’ ’ he re- 
ported. 

“Here they come,” said John. 

Hugh Harris appeared through the trees. 
With him was Joseph Leonard, a fellow towns- 
man of his from Philadelphia, to act as one of 
his seconds, and John Davis to act as the other. 
Neither of these boys was a particular friend 
of Hugh, so far as the others present were 
aware, but that was unimportant after all, and 
something that need not concern them. 

Hugh was extremely pale and nervous. He 
paced up and down while Joseph Leonard con- 
ferred with John Ayres. At the conclusion of 
their conference a square was marked out on 
the soft ground with the end of a stick. The 
seconds agreed that the fight was to go on until 
one or the other of the principals acknowledged 
himself beaten, or in the opinion of the seconds 
was so badly bruised as to make it advisable to 
call a halt. 

Joseph Leonard had brought along a brace of 
pistols and argued at first for a regular duel 
at thirty paces, but John would not listen to the 
124 


BY STONY BROOK 

suggestion. To settle the argument by such 
means he maintained might result fatally ; 
Henry desired no such outcome. Joseph did not 
press the point strongly, and Samuel whispered 
to Thomas that no doubt his suggestion had 
been nothing more than a bluff. The college 
had strict rules against duelling anyway, and 
any one convicted of having participated in a 
duel was almost certain to be expelled. 

The principals removed their coats, waist- 
coats and stocks. They rolled up their sleeves 
and faced each other in the center of the clear- 
ing. As to height and weight, they seemed 
about evenly matched, the advantage, if there 
were any, being on the side of Hugh. He 
seemed more nervous than his opponent, his 
glance roved hither and yon, only resting on 
Henry’s face for occasional fleeting moments. 
Henry, on the other hand, stood perfectly still, 
his gaze never once wavering from his adver- 
sary; he was as pale as Hugh, but seemed more 
at his ease. 

“When I say ‘ three,’ ” announced Joseph 
Leonard. “No hitting below the belt, remem- 
ber. A clean fight is what we intend to have.” 

“All right, ’ ’ said Hugh peevishly. Henry as- 
125 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

sented by an almost imperceptible nod of his 
head, bnt did not alter the direction of his gaze. 

“ Ready V 9 asked Joseph. 

Absolute silence prevailed in the little 
clearing. 

4 4 One, two, three !” 

Hugh snarled like some wounded animal. 
Head down he rushed at Henry, swinging his 
fists blindly. Henry sidestepped and danced 
away. Again Hugh rushed, and Henry con- 
tented himself by merely warding off his blows, 
making no strenuous effort to strike back. He 
was calm and collected. Hugh, on the other 
hand, seemed to be infuriated by the failure 
of his blows to reach their mark, and swung 
his arms like flails, striving desperately to reach 
Henry >s face. Still Henry remained on the de- 
fensive. He kept backing away from Hugh or 
sidestepping as the need of the moment re- 
quired. But he was watching his chance. 

Hugh was tiring. He was spending his 
strength prodigally, and his efforts were too 
violent to continue long. His breath, too, w T as 
failing, while his blows, when they did strike 
Henry, fell harmlessly on his protecting fore- 
arms. At the end of about two minutes Hugh 
126 


BY STONY BROOK 


eased up for breath. He dropped his arms to 
his sides for a moment and quick as a flash 
Henry struck. His right fist shot out and 
caught Hugh squarely over the left eye. In- 
stantly blood began to trickle down Hugh’s face. 
He staggered back, then with a roar of rage he 
rushed in again. Once more Henry tried to 
sidestep, but this time his foot slipped. Hugh 
grappled with him and they went down to- 
gether, Hugh raining blows on his opponent’s 
face. 

i 1 Here, here,” shouted John. “None of that. 
Let him up.” 

Joseph sprang to the side of the two fighters, 
pulled them apart, and got them to their feet 
once more. 

Henry’s face was covered with dirt and 
grime, and the blood Hugh had rubbed off his 
own face. Both boys were breathing hard. For 
an instant they stood facing each other without 
moving, then they rushed simultaneously. 
Stung by the blows he had received, Henry was 
fast losing his coolness, and he, too, was ready 
to fight savagely, and let science go flying to the 
four winds. Bang, bang, bang, they stood up 
toe to toe and traded punches. The blood from 
127 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


the cut over Hugh’s eye now covered his whole 
face, his hands and arms were stained red from 
the blood he had wiped out of his eyes. Nor 
was Henry unmarked. One eye was swollen 
and discolored, and blood trickled out of the 
side of his mouth from a dislocated tooth. 

Hugh still kept up his rushing tactics. Head 
down he charged in at Henry, swinging his 
arms, driving home his blows with all the 
strength he possessed. And those of his 
punches which found their mark were having 
their effect. They were body blows and they 
hurt. One wild lunge caught Henry squarely 
in the pit of the stomach, and bent him over 
almost double. His knees sagged and he wav- 
ered uncertainly on his feet. Quick to realize 
his advantage, Hugh bored in more fiercely than 
ever. The blow had knocked nearly all of 
Henry’s breath out of his body, and weakened 
him so that most of his strength was gone. His 
eyes were glassy and his arms hung limply by 
his sides, the muscles numbed and paralyzed, 
unable to respond to the will of their possessor. 
Hugh rained blow after blow on his weakened 
adversary, the glow of victory shining wickedly 
in his blood-covered eyes. 

128 



Maddened with pain he rushed again. 










BY STONY BROOK 


“Now, you cur, I’ve got you!” he snarled. 
He set himself to deliver the blow which would 
end the fight then and there. 

Henry held up his hands weakly. His brain 
was clear enough to permit of his understand- 
ing that he must try to defend himself, but his 
strength was sapped. Instinct more than any- 
thing else told him to put out his arms in de- 
fense. He knew that in ten seconds his strength 
would return to him again. But what would 
happen during those ten seconds? Luck de- 
cided this question. Hugh’s blow, the one in- 
tended to end the fight, was deflected by his 
outstretched hand, and only grazed the side of 
his jaw. The energy Hugh had put into it threw 
him off his balance and before he could recover 
Henry had backed away, stalling for time, fight- 
ing desperately on the defensive. Hugh’s 
chance had gone. With every passing second 
Henry was gaining back his strength and with 
it his confidence. 

The little group of five spectators had been 
silent during this brief period of crisis. Three 
of them, Henry’s friends, had thought the end 
had come, and when they saw their champion 
ward off defeat, saw his strength and confidence 
129 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

return to him, they shouted their joy. Hugh, 
balked of victory and stung by the cheers of 
Henry’s adherents, grew angrier than ever. He 
roared like some wounded animal, his breath 
came in short gasps ; tousled, blood-stained, and 
half mad with rage he tore after Henry again. 

Henry was not to be caught napping a second 
time. As Hugh came at him, head down, he 
stepped aside and straightened up his opponent 
with a blow that caught him fairly on the end 
of the nose. Blood gushed from the bruised 
member until Hugh’s shirt was a sight to be- 
hold. Maddened with pain he rushed again. 
Henry, now perfectly calm, drove home a sting- 
ing blow full on Hugh’s jaw which sent his 
head back with a jerk. Henry was entire master 
of himself now. He wasted no efforts, measured 
every blow, and made every one of them count. 
He rocked Hugh first to one side and then the 
other, with crushing, bruising blows that landed 
with deadly accuracy and machinelike precision. 

There was no doubt about the outcome now. 
Hugh was beaten. His seconds knew it, 
Thomas, John and Samuel knew it. Henry 
knew it. Perhaps Hugh himself knew it. But 
his courage never failed for an instant. He 
130 


BY STONY BROOK 


carried the fight to his antagonist relentlessly. 
His rushes were growing weaker however, his 
blows wilder and wilder. A look of pity came 
over Henry’s face as he realized the condition 
of his antagonist, and as Hugh rushed in at 
him for what was to prove the last time, he took 
one quick step to the left, placed his hand on the 
top of Hugh’s head and shoved. Hugh shot 
forward, his knees wobbling, sinking lower and 
lower to the ground, until finally his legs gave 
way entirely and he pitched forward on his 
face, flat on the earth. 


131 


CHAPTER XI 


TROUBLE WITH THE FACULTY 

Henry stood for a moment, looking down at the 
prostrate figure of his late antagonist. Then 
he rubbed his sleeve across his face and knelt on 
one knee by his side and rolled him over. Hugh 
looked up dazedly, then he recognized Henry 
and put out his hand. 

“You beat me,” he said huskily. 

“Let’s forget about it,” said Henry. “John, 
soak your handkerchief in the brook and bring 
it here.” 

John had already started for Stony Brook 
to do this very thing. He returned in a mo- 
ment and found Hugh sitting up. 

“Don’t worry about me,” exclaimed 
Hugh, with a wry smile. “I’m perfectly all 
right.” 

“Yes,” said Joseph, “you go wash your own 
face, Henry. I’ll take care of Hugh. You’re 
pretty looking sights, both of you.” 

Henry made his way to the brook, knelt on a 
132 


TROUBLE WITH THE FACULTY 


large flat stone on the bank, and forming a cup 
of his two hands, dashed water over his face and 
head. He felt weak and “shaky.” His head 
ached and his stomach was sore from the blows 
he had received. Nor did he enjoy any feeling 
of elation at having come off victorious in the 
fight. He had fought because he had believed 
it was necessary, but the thought of it nauseated 
him now. He felt nothing but disgust at the 
whole performance. And yet he knew he would 
go through it again under similar circum- 
stances. 

When he returned to the clearing Hugh was 
on his feet. Joseph had helped him wash his 
face with the wet handkerchief, and was now 
brushing off his clothes. Hugh’s left eye was 
almost closed, and there was an ugly red and 
blue swelling all around it; his lips, too, were 
swollen and he still was spitting blood at fre- 
quent intervals. Henry was well battered him- 
self. He had a black and blue lump on the right 
temple, and one of his cheeks was badly cut. 
Both boys felt weak and unsteady on their feet. 
Moreover, there was a certain shyness between 
them, they avoided looking at each other and 
exchanged no words. 


133 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


“ Let’s go back,” exclaimed Henry, anxious 
to leave the scene of the fight. 

“Come along,” said John, and started at 
once. Henry went close behind him, followed 
by Thomas and Samuel. They called per- 
functory good-bys to the three other boys and 
talked but little themselves as they walked. A 
feeling of depression had settled over them, 
they all felt that the fight had been an unfortu- 
nate occurrence, and in spite of the fact that the 
outcome had been as they had wished, it was 
most unsatisfactory to know that Hugh still 
was not aware of the real circumstances and 
did not know that he alone was to blame for his 
quarrel with Henry. 

“Are you going to tell him about it?” 
Thomas inquired. 

“No,” said Henry. “Let him find out for 
himself.” 

The four boys walked on in silence for a time., 

“I tried to explain to him once,” said Henry 
presently, bringing up the subject again. “I 
feel that I have done all that should be expected 
of me.” 

“You’re quite right, Henry,” said Samuel., 
“It’s for him to come to you.” 

134 


TROUBLE WITH THE FACULTY 

“I think so,” said Henry. “I’ve done my 
part.” 

“Will the authorities do anything about it?” 
asked John. 

“The college authorities?” said Thomas. 
“Why should they?” 

“There’s a strict rule against duelling. 
Maybe they will also consider a plain fight a 
serious offense.” 

“Probably they will,” said Henry. “Every- 
thing is an offense with them, so far as I can 
see. No doubt I’ll be expelled.” He laughed 
a hollow laugh. “I don’t care much if I am.” 

“Don’t talk like that, Henry,” cried John. 
“That’s nonsense and you know it. Maybe 
they’ll never hear about the fight anyway.” 

“They can see from the look of my face that 
I didn’t spend this afternoon studying Greek,” 
said Henry. “No one will have to tell them 
about it.” 

“Baldridge might report you,” said Samuel. 
“He’s a mean old codger.” 

“And he doesn’t like me any too well,” said 
Henry. “But what’s the use of talking about 
it; it does no good.” 

The shadows were lengthening when they ar- 
135 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


rived back at Nassau Hall, and candles were 
burning in a few of the rooms. No one paid 
any particular attention to them as they entered 
the building, and the bruised condition of 
Henry ’s face went unnoticed. He hurried to his 
room and did everything he could to remove 
the traces of the blows he had received. First 
of all he took off all his clothes and bathed; 
the cold water was extremely refreshing and 
made him feel better. He stretched out on the 
bed and John applied cold compresses to his 
face in an effort to reduce the swelling and 
make him presentable for supper and evening 
prayers. In the midst of these proceedings 
there came a knock at the door. Henry sprang 
up from bed, and seizing a book from the table, 
sat down hurriedly and pretended to be study- 
ing. John opened the door. 

George Dodd entered the room. Right hand 
extended he hastened to Henry’s side. 

“Fm sorry,” he exclaimed. “I’m more 
sorry than I can say. I am the cause of all this 
trouble, and I want to apologize as humbly as 
I can!” 

Henry rose to his feet and threw the book 
upon the bed. “I thought it was Baldridge or 
136 


TROUBLE WITH THE FACULTY 

Mr. Smith at the door,” he said with a laugh. 
“Sit down, George.” 

“Will you forgive me?” George persisted. 
“I never realized that reading that silly poem 
would lead to this. ’ 9 

“How did you find out about it?” Henry de- 
manded. “And how is your father?” 

“My father is not seriously ill, thank you. 
I was able to leave him this afternoon, and rid- 
ing back I met Hugh Harris, Joseph Leonard 
and John Davis on the road. Naturally I 
stopped to speak with them, and then I saw 
Hugh’s face. He looks as if a horse had 
trampled on him, Henry. Wbat did you do to 
him?” 

“Look at me,” said Henry. 

“You’re unmarked compared to him. Well, 
I inquired what it was all about, and then I 
heard the story of the fight. I realized instantly 
that I was to blame, and I can’t tell you how 
badly I feel. If only I hadn’t been called to 
Trenton this morning I would have been on 
hand to explain, and then it would not have 
happened.” 

“What is the explanation?” John inquired. 

“Why last night I was coming down the hall 

137 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

and saw a piece of paper on the floor. I picked 
it np and stuffed it in my pocket, and then I 
never thought of it again until this morning. 
When I examined it and read the poem I real- 
ized what a treasure it was, and I decided to 
read it at breakfast. You know the rest.” 

“Didn’t you notice the initials ‘H. H.’l” 
asked John. 

“Yes, of course, hut I didn’t think much about 
them.” 

“Then you didn’t know that Hugh was the 
author?” 

“No, I didn’t. At any rate it really didn’t 
occur to me that I was injuring anybody by 
reading the poem. I suppose I should have 
thought of that side of it, but I didn’t. It was 
all a joke to me.” 

“Did you tell all this to Hugh?” asked 
Henry. 

“Indeed I did.” 

“What did he say?” 

Before George could reply the door flew open, 
and Hugh burst into the room. 

“Henry,” he cried. “I’m an idiot. George 
has told you I suppose?” 

Henry laughed. “He has,” he replied., 
138 


TROUBLE WITH THE FACULTY 


“ Let’s shake hands and forget the whole 
thing. ’ ’ 

“I wish I could,” exclaimed Hugh, “but I 
made such an ass of myself, and lost my head 
so completely that I don’t see how you can ever 
want to speak to me or see me again.” 

“On the contrary,” said Henry, “I hope we 
shall see a great deal of each other from now 
on. We know each other better now and should 
get on famously. And it was grand exercise, 
wasn’t it?” 

“Too violent,” said Hugh, and everybody 
laughed. Then the bell rang, summoning them 
to supper. 

“I wish we could omit this meal,” said 
Henry. “Hugh, you and I are scarcely pre- 
sentable. Worst of all I hate the questions we 
shall be asked.” 

“You’d better come,” said John. “All of 
us are subject to four-pence fine for being away 
from our rooms for longer than an hour and a 
half this afternoon as it is. Old Baldridge will 
surely have noticed it, and if you two don’t ap- 
pear at supper and evening prayers he’ll do his 
best to make trouble for you.” 

“John is right, Henry,” said George. 
139 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

“You’ve got to face it some time, and yon might 
as well do it how and be done with it. The 
longer you put things off the harder they are. ’ ’ 

“All right, Mr. Philosopher,” laughed 
Henry. “Come on, Hugh. We don’t have to 
say anything until some one asks us, and then 
we can say we ran into each other. That’s true 
enough.” 

“Agreed,” said Hugh. “Here’s hoping 
Baldridge is unohserving to-night.” 

Mr. Baldridge, however, was not unohserv- 
ing that night. Still it is possible that he might 
not have noticed the bruised faces of the two 
erstwhile combatants had it not been for an un- 
foreseen event. Mr. Baldridge was a pompous 
little man, and greatly concerned about his dig- 
nity, and its being given due recognition by the 
student body. When it happened, therefore, 
that in seating himself at the table that evening 
he should have slipped and fallen sprawling on 
the floor his dignity was hurt. When the stu- 
dents were unable to control their delight at 
his mishap and laughed loudly at his expense 
he was furiously angry. He sprang to his feet 
and faced the table, purple with rage. Every- 
body present did his best to check his mirth, 
140 


TROUBLE WITH THE FACULTY 

for they knew Mr. Baldridge’s temper and real- 
ized that he would try to make a scapegoat of 
somebody and make him suffer for the spectacle 
he had made of himself. 

Now Henry Stirling had been particularly 
pleased when the luckless steward had been pre- 
cipitated to the floor. Mr. Baldridge’s pom- 
posity had always afforded him secret mirth, 
and when his dignity was so badly ruffled in the 
presence of the students it seemed almost too 
good to be true. He laughed, and he laughed, 
and he laughed. The harder he tried to stop 
the harder he laughed. He became almost hys- 
terical, and his laughter continued long after 
all the others had ceased. The result was, of 
course, that the burden of Mr. Baldridge’s 
anger fell on him. 

“Mr. Stirling,” he spluttered, his face look- 
ing as if it were about to burst into flame, “you 
are acting towards one of your superiors in 
a disrespectful and insulting manner. You are 
fined five shillings, and you will go to your room 
at once. Furthermore, you may expect to hear 
from me later.” 

Henry arose from his seat and started for 
the door. His heart was heavy, as he realized 
141 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

that once again he was in trouble with the col- 
lege authorities, but even so he could not en- 
tirely check his laughter. It had got the better 
of him, and as he passed out of the room, his 
shoulders still shook with laughter, and he 
snickered audibly. 

Arrived at his room, the possibilities involved 
in the occurrence came home to him with full 
force. He was tired and sore, and he felt dis- 
couraged with life. Everything seemed to be 
going against him. He had made up his mind 
only the day previous that he was going to take 
his college work seriously and try honestly to 
do better, to correct the impression of laziness 
and indifference the faculty had of him. Then 
a chain of circumstances he could not help had 
caught him in their toils and he was in worse 
trouble than ever. 

“What’s the use?” he muttered, and threw 
himself face downward on his bed. 


142 


CHAPTER XII 


braddock's defeat 

The upshot of Henryk laughter at Mr. Bald- 
ridge was that the steward found out all about 
his fight with Hugh, reported him to President 
Burr, and as punishment he was suspended 
from college for ten days, in addition to the 
numerous fines imposed upon him. His first 
impulse was to quit Nassau Hall for good and 
all, and only his more sober judgment told him 
that that was not the way to act. He felt he had 
been done an injustice in this particular case, 
but this was all the more reason, he decided, 
after thinking things over, to stay on and prove 
that he was made of the proper stuff, no matter 
what was thought of him at the present 
time. 

He did not go to his home at Perth Amboy, 
for the trip was a difficult one at that time of 
year, and the thought of facing his family and 
friends was, under the circumstances, some- 
thing he did not care about. He knew his father 
143 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 


would approve of his action in resenting Hugh’s 
insult to him, but he did not relish the idea of 
having to explain his suspension to the neigh- 
bors. He, therefore, decided to take up his 
residence near the college for the ten-day period, 
spend most of his time in study and return to 
college better equipped than ever perhaps to 
pursue his course successfully. 

He found lodgings with a family named Van 
Sciver in the little village of Kings Town, three 
miles distant from Prince Town. The Van 
Sciver s had recently moved to Jersey from Vir- 
ginia, and were a young couple who had been 
married for only a few months. They had a 
small farm, were rather poor and consequently 
glad to increase their meager financial re- 
sources by the money Henry paid for his board 
and lodging. 

They took Henry in and treated him exactly 
like a member of their family. They were 
simple folk, but extremely industrious and am- 
bitious to make the most of their limited oppor- 
tunities, and Henry was attracted to them from 
the start. 

“ You did right in fighting when he called you 
a liar,” said Mr. Van Sciver, commenting on 
144 


BRADDOCK’S DEFEAT 

the fight with Hugh. ‘‘No man who is 
not a liar is going to stand for being called 
one.” 

Van Sciver had been a soldier. He had served 
under Colonel George Washington in the dis- 
astrous attempt two years previously to recover 
Fort Du Quesne from the French and Indians. 
Many soldiers fighting for the British Crown 
in the French and Indian Wars were quartered 
in and about Prince Town, and Henry was al- 
ways intensely interested in listening to the 
tales they had to tell of the campaigns in which 
they had participated. As soon as he discov- 
ered that Mr. Van Sciver had been present at 
the defeat of General Braddock he was not con- 
tent to rest until the story had been recounted 
to him in every detail. 

“Of course you know all about the events 
leading up to it,” said Mr. Van Sciver as they 
were seated in front of the big hearth fire one 
evening, “how the French and English had been 
quarreling over the lands along the Ohio River, 
and how the French built a fort at the forks of 
the Ohio, which would give them command of 
practically all that region. This was Fort Du 
Quesne, named in honor of the governor of 
145 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

Canada. Colonel Washington, as yon know, 
had been commissioned to raise two hundred 
men and build forts there before the French 
could do it. But he was too late. You have 
heard how he started out from Virginia, drag- 
ging cannon over the great wooded hills, bridg- 
ing streams, cutting down trees and doing 
everything he could to prepare the way for the 
larger army which was to follow. 

“Well, when he got within about forty miles 
of his destination he heard from a friendly 
Indian Chief that the French were close by and 
intended to attack. When he heard this news 
Washington fell back a short distance to a big 
marsh he had recently crossed, and there he 
built a fort. This fort, as you know, was called 
Fort Necessity. Pretty soon news came to 
Colonel Washington, who, by the way, I con- 
sider a wonderful man, that there was a party 
of French lying in ambush close at hand. Well, 
Washington didn’t wait for anything more; the 
night was pitch dark and the rain was falling 
in torrents, but he started right out. With forty 
men he set off for the camp of Half-King, the 
friendly Mingo Chief, and reached his destina- 
tion just about dawn. Soon after sunrise his 
146 


BBADDOCK’S DEFEAT 


band and the Indian recruits he had got were 
on the march for the hiding place of the French. 
That is characteristic of the man ; if he decides 
to do a thing he does it and nothing on the top 
of the earth can stop him. 

“Single file they went, marching in parallel 
lines, Washington, of course, at the head of his 
men. Well, they found the place where the 
Frenchmen were ambushed all right, and Wash- 
ington being in the lead was the first to see the 
enemy. ‘Fire’ he shouts, and his own gun was 
the first one to be discharged. For about fif- 
teen minutes the fight lasted and then the 
French, or what was left of them, made off. 
Eleven Frenchmen were killed, including the 
commander of the party, over twenty were cap- 
tured, and only about fifteen out of the original 
fifty got away.” 

“What were Washington’s losses?” asked 
Henry. 

“Only one Virginian was killed,” said Mr. 
Van Sciver, “and he was a man who had ex- 
posed himself unnecessarily.” 

“That was the first fight of the war?” said 
Henry. 

“The very first, and as you know it caused 

147 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 


the greatest excitement all over this country and 
in Europe. The war was on in earnest from 
that moment. More troops joined Washington 
until he had about four hundred men in his com- 
mand. He was starting to press on towards 
Fort Du Quesne when word came to him that a 
French force with over a thousand Indian allies 
was marching on him. Naturally there was 
nothing to do but fall back to Fort Necessity 
again, strengthen the place as best he could and 
wait for the attack. It came right soon. A few 
days later six hundred French and three hun- 
dred Indians attacked the fort, and in addition 
they had large reserves hidden in the woods. 
All day long the fight continued and when eve- 
ning came the ammunition was running low, so 
a parley was proposed. The upshot of it was, 
as you know, that Washington surrendered the 
fort and the prisoners he had taken ; he agreed 
not to erect any fortifications west of the moun- 
tains for a year on the condition that he and 
his men should be allowed to return to their 
homes unmolested.’ ’ 

“ Colonel Washington’s conduct was ap- 
proved, wasn’t it?” asked Henry. 

‘ ‘ Approved and commended. Every one rec- 
148 


BRADDOCK’S DEFEAT 

ognized that he had done the only thing possible 
under the circumstances .’ ’ 

“And so ended the first campaign of the 
war,” said Henry. 

“Quite right,” said Mr. Van Sciver, knock- 
ing the ashes out of his pipe by pounding it on 
the heel of his boot. He refilled it from a to- 
bacco pouch carried in his hip pocket. 

“You were not in any of that fighting, were 
you ? 9 9 

“No. My turn came later.” 

He lighted his pipe from the glowing end of 
a stick pulled out of the fire, puffed vigorously 
at it for a moment and then continued. 

“When news reached England that the 
French had obtained possession of the Ohio 
Valley plans were immediately set in motion 
to recover it. In the meantime the French were 
working as hard as they could among the In- 
dians, stirring up hatred against the English 
and urging them to kill every Englishman they 
saw. The British Government realized the 
danger and sent General Braddock with two 
regiments of regulars to Virginia to lead an 
expedition against Fort Du Quesne, and cam- 
paigns were also planned against the French 
149 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

in other sections of the country, as you know. 
You also know how pleased the colonists all 
were when they realized that the home govern- 
ment recognized their peril and was preparing 
to take vigorous action. 

“ General Braddock arrived in Virginia with 
his two regiments of regulars and there was 
great rejoicing. He was a distinguished officer, 
belonged to the famous Coldstream Guards, and 
British regulars were considered invincible. 
Every one felt that the terrorism spread along 
the border by the French and Indians would 
soon be stopped once and for all. The colonists 
laid aside the grievances they had had against 
the home government and every one joined the 
preparations for war with the greatest enthusi- 
asm. Braddock had about a thousand regulars 
and there were about an equal number of pro- 
vincials under Washington. I am proud to say 
that I was one of them. 

‘ 4 From the start Washington feared trouble, 
I think. General Braddock was a hot-headed 
Irishman, who had only contempt for the pro- 
vincial troops, wouldn’t take advice, and was 
absolutely bull-headed about anything on which 
he had made up his mind. Things dragged 
150 


BRADDOCK ’S DEFEAT 

along. Toward the end of May a pioneer force 
was sent ont to clear a pathway through the 
woods and collect stores at Fort Necessity. 
Naturally the French were watching all these 
preparations and knew just what was going on. 
This move was the signal for them to collect all 
their Indian allies, and strengthen their own 
position before the British could attack. Colo- 
nel Washington was getting more and more 
impatient all the time and finally, about the 
middle of June, he persuaded General Braddock 
to send twelve hundred men on ahead in light 
marching order with the artillery, and have the 
remainder follow more slowly. Strange to say, 
the General consented.’ ’ 

“Why do you say ‘ strange?’ ” asked 
Henry. 

“If you had known General Braddock you 
wouldn’t ask that question,” said Mr. Van 
Sciver, emphatically. “He was the most pig- 
headed man I ever heard of. He wouldn’t listen 
to anybody. Least of all he wanted advice from 
a provincial officer, a colonel of volunteers. 
Now, Colonel Washington knows Indian fight- 
ing better than any man in the colonies, I be- 
lieve, and he kept trying to give General Brad- 
151 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

dock the benefit of his knowledge. With what 
success you can imagine from the fact that these 
British regulars — as brave as any soldiers in 
the world, by the way — were led through the 
forests in close marching order, dressed in 
bright red coats, banners flying and bands play- 
ing. That’s all right for European warfare 
perhaps, but not for this country. Why they 
were the easiest marks imaginable for any one 
who wanted to shoot at them. 

“Well, finally on the ninth day of July — I 
shall never forget the date — we reached the 
Monongahela River and forded it. We were 
then only about twelve miles from Port Du 
Quesne.” 

“Still marching in solid platoons, I sup- 
pose?” 

“Exactly,” said Mr. Van Sciver. “At least 
the regulars were. Colonel Washington knew 
how dangerous it was and he pleaded with Gen- 
eral Braddock to deploy his men in open order. 
I heard him myself. What he wanted was to 
use the same method of fighting in the forests 
that the Indians themselves use, which, of 
course, is no more than sensible. But General 
Braddock would pay no attention to him. In 
152 


BBADDOCK’S DEFEAT 

fact, lie got angry and demanded to know by 
what right a provincial colonel presumed to tell 
a British general what to do. Well, Washing- 
ton was right about it, as you know. He feared 
an ambush and we ran into one all right. It 
was just about noon.” 

Mr. Van Sciver pounded his fist on the arm 
of his chair. 4 ‘It makes me furiously angry 
every time I think of it,” he exclaimed. “All 
so unnecessary.” He said nothing for a time, 
but his jaw was set and his fist clenched as he 
lived those moments over again in his thoughts. 
Henry said nothing, for he could see that the 
story teller was deeply affected. As for Mrs. 
Van Sciver, she kept on knitting placidly; the 
story her husband was telling was one she had 
heard many times before and her interest in it 
had waned. The click of her knitting needles 
was the only noise to disturb the quiet prevail- 
ing in the little room. Finally her husband 
plucked another burning stick out of the fire, 
lighted his pipe once more and continued. 

“We were passing through a small ravine. 
The regulars were in front of us because 
they felt that the front place belonged to them. 
We were all nervous as could be because we 
153 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


were pretty well into the enemy’s territory and 
we feared an ambuscade. That ravine looked 
like a perfect spot for one, too, high banks on 
each side and heavily wooded. Then the red 
coats that the regulars were wearing made them 
the most conspicuous marks you ever saw. All 
of a sudden it came. Have you ever heard the 
war-whoop ? ’ ’ 

“ Never,” said Henry. 

‘ 4 Well it’s blood-curdling and terrifying,” 
said Mr. Van Sciver. “If you’ve never heard it 
it is indescribable. When six hundred Indians 
give it all at once it ’s enough to make every hair 
on your head stand straight up. That’s just 
what happened that day. And not an Indian in 
sight. Remember that ; these terrible war- 
whoops and not an Indian in sight. Well the 
whole army stood stock-still when they heard 
the yells. Before they had got their senses 
back, bullets poured into them from three direc- 
tions, front and both sides. As for arrows, the 
air was full of them. Can you imagine the 
slaughter? Why it was like firing into a flock 
of blackbirds with a load of buckshot. 

“Braddock’s men were in a panic instantly. 
I don’t blame them much. But I do blame their, 
154 


BRADDOCK ’S DEFEAT 

commanding officer for leading them into such 
a trap. He was no coward, though. His men 
were thrown into confusion and he was out in 
front, trying desperately to rally them, to in- 
spire them by his own example to fight back. 
And his officers were right with him. There 
were eighty-six English officers there when the 
fight began and sixty-three of them were either 
killed or wounded. General Braddock himself 
had five horses shot from under him. Then 
finally he too was shot and fell mortally 
wounded.’ ’ 

“What about Washington all this time?” 
said Henry. 

“ ‘What about Washington’?” demanded Mr. 
Van Sciver. “You ought to have seen him. He 
seemed to be everywhere at once. The minute 
he saw the panic of the regulars, saw them 
throwing down their arms and running like a 
lot of scared rabbits, he rallied his own men to 
cover their retreat. With General Braddock 
carried from the field the chief command fell 
upon him. He knew there was no use in bother- 
ing with the regulars, but he did know that un- 
less some one held the enemy off for a time 
every one of those red-coated soldiers would 
155 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

have been hunted down by some rod-skinned 
savage and killed like a rat.” 

“And scalped,” said Henry. 

“No doubt. Well, it wasn’t much fun I can 
tell you. The Indians and the French had the 
advantage of being on the ground first and so 
they had the choice of positions. I personally 
got behind the roots of a fallen tree, and many 
a bullet went ‘ thump ’ into the big ball of earth 
the roots had pulled up with them when the 
tree went down. But I didn’t get a scratch. 
Most of our men were killed, poor fellows, and 
that shows how well they covered the retreat of 
the regulars. Why out of our three Virginia 
companies there were only thirty men left 
alive.” 

“The regulars, how about them?” Henry 
asked. 

“Half of them were killed,” said Mr. Van 
Sciver, “but of the provincials, why nearly all 
of them were killed. Oh, it was terrible. Those 
Indians were red fiends. And they flitted 
around among the trees like shadows, now here, 
now there, picking out their victims as coolly as 
if they were sitting on the edge of one of their 
cornfields shooting crows. It was too much for 
156 


SHADDOCK’S DEFEAT 

the regulars; their officers did their best to 
rally them, but they were running like a lot of 
sheep chased by dogs. They left their dead on 
the field, cannon were abandoned, horses were 
lying stretched out stiff on the ground or were 
rushing off riderless into the f orest.’ ’ 

“It must have been frightful.’ ’ 

“Worse than that. It can’t be described it 
was so awful. You can see for yourself at what 
a disadvantage we were. Caught napping, out 
in the open, herded together like a lot of ani- 
mals, we were practically helpless. But George 
Washington was there, thank God. He rode up 
and down on his big black horse, calling to his 
men, encouraging them by word and action, and 
he put heart into us. If it hadn’t been for him 
I don’t know but what we would have started 
to run after the regulars. But Colonel Wash- 
ington was our idol, he told us to stay, and of 
course we did. Why, there wasn’t a man in that 
whole company that wouldn’t have gone 
through hell for him. I don’t mean that in any 
irreverent sense either. It’s true. Our fel- 
lows were going down on every side, but with 
Washington out there in front no one had any 
idea of doing anything but sticking right where 
157 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


he was and giving all he had in him. When 
Washington ordered ns to fall back, — we were 
covering the regulars’ retreat, — we fell back 
slowly, fighting inch by inch so as to give the 
regulars a chance to get away. You see we were 
all accustomed to the woods and could take care 
of ourselves, but they would have been as help- 
less in the forest as babies. Why even if there 
had been no Indians around I doubt if many 
of them could have found their way out of the 
woods alive.” 

“But what about Colonel Washington?” de- 
manded Henry. “You say he was out in front 
all the time, and men were being shot down on 
every side. Why wasn’t he killed?” 

“There,” said Mr. Van Sciver, “you have 
mentioned one of the mysteries of the age. No 
one knows why he wasn’t killed. He was in 
plain sight most of the time, for he wanted to 
keep where his men could see him, and of course 
if they could see him the enemy could too. But 
he wasn’t even scratched. Two horses were 
shot from under him, and four bullets passed 
through his coat. Not a wound did he get. It is 
almost incredible, for naturally the Indians and 
the French were singling him out as a mark to 
158 


BRADDOCK’S DEFEAT 


shoot at. I can’t help but believe that a Divine 
Providence was watching over him, and he was 
spared because there is some still greater and 
more important work for him to do.” 

“It does seem so,” said Henry. 

That night he dreamed of Indians and am- 
bushes, of red-coated soldiers, and men on horse- 
back. Soldiering appealed to Henry and he gave 
his friends much worriment because he persisted 
in visiting the taverns in and about Prince 
Town where the soldiers were in the habit of 
congregating and swapping stories. Many an 
evening Henry had violated the rules of the col- 
lege and neglected his studies by being absent 
from his room because the soldiers’ tales lured 
him to the taprooms of the inns. He had an 
ingenious device constructed with a pulley and 
piece of rope which he used at such times ; one 
end of this crude invention would be fastened 
to a bed post and the other end put out the win- 
dow, for through the window and by means of 
the rope and pulley he made his entrances and 
exits to and from Nassau Hall when darkness 
had fallen over the land and students were sup- 
posed to be at their studies or asleep. Usually 
he waited until nine o’clock before sallying 
159 


A PRINCETON EOY UNDER THE KING 

forth, for then the rooms were in darkness and 
he could go up and down the side of the build- 
ing by means of the rope with less fear of de- 
tection. One evening when he had gone earlier 
than usual, the tutor making the rounds at nine 
o’clock had called him by name. 

“Are you there, Mr. Ayres!” he had in- 
quired first. 

“Yes, sir,” said John. 

“And you, Mr. Stirling!” he said. 

“Yes, sir,” said John, doing his best to imi- 
tate his roommate’s voice and without hesi- 
tating an instant. John was always a loyal 
friend. 


160 


CHAPTER XIII 


TWO PRESIDENTS 

When Henry’s term of suspension expired and 
he returned to Nassau Hall, he could not keep 
back a feeling of resentment against the mem- 
bers of the faculty, and against President Burr 
in particular. He could not believe that his 
infraction of the college rules was serious 
enough to warrant the punishment he had re- 
ceived. Baldridge had revenged himself in 
this way, he felt, and as President Burr had 
been the one who actually pronounced sentence 
Henry could not help but consider him an im- 
portant party to the commission of the injus- 
tice. 

He had resolved to apply himself closely to 
his studies, however, and he therefore tried 
honestly to put these grievances out of his 
mind, and devote himself whole-heartedly to 
the work of the college. Now Henry was ex- 
tremely intelligent, and was accustomed to mak- 
ing a success of whatever he undertook seri- 
161 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 


ously. Consequently it was not long before the 
attitude of the faculty towards him began to 
undergo a change. Instead of doing only fairly 
well in his recitations he commenced to do very 
well indeed, and the tutors, and even President 
Burr himself, took occasion to compliment him 
on his altered attitude. Mr. Baldridge, how- 
ever, continued to treat him with his customary 
coolness. No doubt the steward sensed the fact 
that Henry held him in secret contempt, and as 
is often the case with such men, he tried to get 
even with him by making things difficult for the 
young student. Henry knew all this, but he 
ignored it, and paid as little attention to it as 
he could. Also he had as few dealings with 
Mr. Baldridge as possible. So far as he could 
tell the enmity of the steward did him no seri- 
ous harm, and he continued in good standing 
with the faculty. 

He became an excellent friend of Hugh Har- 
ris. The enmity which has previously existed 
between the two boys entirely disappeared af- 
ter the fight, and they spent much of their time 
in each other’s company. Hugh’s affection for 
Miss Smith continued, but did not seem to be 
reciprocated. The story of the poem and the 
162 


TWO PRESIDENTS 

fight had of coarse become common property 
in the town and the college, and the young lady 
in question naturally resented the publicity, 
and held Hugh accountable for it. The fact that 
his suit made little or no progress, however, 
drew Hugh and Henry still more closely to- 
gether. Hugh realized that his friend was not 
a rival in any way, and he even began to make 
a confidant of him and seek his advice. Not 
that he ever got much encouragement. Henry 
had little interest in girls, considering them 
something of a nuisance, in fact, and much pre- 
ferred other topics of conversation. 

Spring came to Prince Town, and the warm 
sunshiny days beckoned Henry out of doors, 
to the fields and the woods and the streams. 
Study became more and more irksome. There 
was a constant struggle between duty and de- 
sire and it required all of his will power to keep 
him at his books. Many a time as he sat by his 
window with an opened book before him he 
would start suddenly and realize that for he 
knew not how long he had been gazing into the 
trees outside and had completely ignored his 
lessons. Trees fascinated Henry. He loved to 
watch the sunlight playing through the leaves,, 
163 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

admire the myriad shades of their shimmering 
green, and the somber browns of the trunk and 
branches. It always looked so cool in the tree- 
tops, and so soft. He recalled many occasions 
when he had stood and gazed across a valley at 
a tree-covered hillside, thinking how wonder- 
ful it would be if he could fly above it and then 
plunge down into that enticing-looking mass of 
green. He wanted to bury his head in the 
leaves, and feel them cool and smooth against 
his face. 

Swimming holes began to appear to Henry’s 
imagination. He remembered one in par- 
ticular that he had noticed when walking 
along Stony Brook with John Ayres early in 
the winter : a fallen tree bounded its upper end 
and made an ideal place from which to dive ; a 
steep, overhanging bank was on one side, and 
opposite a shelving pebbly beach ; below was a 
sharp bend where the stream during centuries 
of patient waiting at this corner had dug for 
itself an arm chair out of the bed of the brook 
in which to rest itself before going on around 
and investigating the unknown places beyond. 
The water looked clear and inviting and Henry 
had marked the spot for further investigation 
164 


TWO PEESIDENTS 

when warm weather came. He had also made 
note of places in Stony Brook and the larger 
Millstone Eiver which seemed likely haunts of 
fish. 

The soft spring breezes blowing in the open 
window in Nassau Hall brought visions of all 
these places to Henry, whispered in his ear of 
them, and told him it was silly to waste his time 
indoors with Greek and Latin and mathematics. 
And Henry, if the truth be told, lent a willing 
ear to the message of the springtime. His high 
resolves to let nothing interfere with his studies 
began gradually to become weaker and weaker. 
He knew in his heart that he would always re- 
gret it if he neglected his studies, and he knew 
it was not necessary for him to neglect them in 
order to get all he needed of the out of doors. 
But he was young, and a dreamer. He did not 
love work. The world of Nature looked so beau- 
tiful, and it called to him. Henry responded. 

The result was, of course, that once more he 
began to find himself in disfavor with the fac- 
ulty. Perhaps they would have dealt easier 
with him if he had not shown them that he could 
do good work. His close application to his 
studies late in the winter had set a precedent, 
165 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

to which he was expected to adhere, and his neg- 
lect of his work convinced the tutors that he 
was indifferent. This in a sense was true. The 
essence of the matter was, however, that he was 
not indifferent to the value of book knowledge, 
but other things appealed more strongly to his 
young and restless nature. The class-room 
seemed dull, study was irksome, and the more 
the tutors criticized him for his neglect of it, 
the less he was inclined to take it seriously. 
President Burr talked with him personally on 
numerous occasions, and while Henry could not 
help but agree with all that the slight, nervous, 
'and intensely serious man who was directing 
the affairs of the infant college, said, he found 
that when the time came to put his precepts into 
practice the necessary enthusiasm was lack- 
ing. 

Mr. Baldridge was quick to notice Henry’s 
lapses, and took delight in making things as dif- 
ficult for him as possible so that there grew up 
between these two a well-defined feeling of dis- 
like and enmity. The fact that it was never re- 
ferred to openly, did not make it any the less 
bitter. Henry fell into the habit of keeping 
more and more to himself. He still had his 
166 


TWO PRESIDENTS 

friends of course, — John, Thomas, Samuel, 
Hugh and the others liked him as much as they 
ever did, and he returned their affection. He 
had lost some of his gayety, however. He real- 
ized this, and knew it was wrong, but he seemed 
unable to help himself. In fact he was not quite 
certain in his own mind just what the trouble 
was. Oftentimes he took solitary walks and 
tried to reason things out, — to Cedar Grove, 
along Stony Brook, or to Kings Town where he 
would stop and see his good friends the Van 
Scivers. Or at night he would climb down his 
rope ladder and make his way to one of the inns 
where the gossip and revelry would for the 
time being make him forget. He became par- 
ticularly friendly with one of the frequenters 
of the inns, a young soldier, Jason Work, a 
youth who had enlisted in the army for the sake 
of adventure. More than once Henry himself 
had seriously considered enlisting. 

So the spring and summer wore on. July 
with its heat and humidity made study more 
difficult than ever. August was more comfort- 
able, but on the last day of that month Gover- 
nor Jonathan Belcher died. Now Henry had a 
real affection for his college, and he knew that 
167 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

through the death of Governor Belcher the in- 
stitution had lost one of its best friends. It 
was Governor Belcher who had given of him- 
self unsparingly to get the College of New Jer- 
sey started on its career as a seat of learning ; 
he had done as much as any one man perhaps 
to make Nassau Hall a reality; he had given it 
its library and assisted it in countless other 
ways. His death was also a tremendous blow 
to President Burr, himself in poor health from 
worry, overwork and care. In fact Mr. Burr 
was sick and suffering from a high fever while 
he prepared the sermon he delivered at Gover- 
nor Belcher’s funeral at Elisabethtown on Sep- 
tember 4. The strain of this effort was so great 
that he was forced to take to his bed, and three 
weeks later his mortal career, too, came to an 
end. The college was stunned by these two 
blows coming in such rapid succession, faculty 
and students were demoralized and the work 
suffered. Henry did not object to this. In fact 
if the causes of this condition had not been so 
serious he would have been delighted. 

These were difficult days for the College of 
New Jersey. The infant institution had 
168 


TWO PRESIDENTS 

scarcely learned to stand by itself, and Gover- 
nor Belcher and Aaron Burr had been two of 
its strongest supports. Commencement, 1757, 
had been set for September 28, just four days 
after President Burr’s death. It was too late 
to make any change in plans. The trustees, 
heavy-hearted, met and went through with the 
exercises, the Honorable William Smith, a mem- 
ber of the Board, presiding and conferring the 
usual degrees. Twenty-six students received 
degrees at this time. The proceedings were all 
in Latin and Henry found them rather tire- 
some; in fact no one had much heart for the 
exercises which ordinarily would have been an 
occasion for celebration. The cloud which hung 
over Prince Town oast a shadow over the spirits 
of the trustees, faculty and students, which in- 
terfered sadly with the whole event. 

The trustees were not slow in meeting for 
the selection of a successor to the late president, 
however. The day following Commencement 
twenty of them gathered together, and after 
prayers for guidance, chose the Reverend Jona- 
than Edwards to be third president of the Col- 
lege of New Jersey. Mr. Edwards was the late 
169 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 

President Burr’s father-in-law, a resident of 
Stockbridge, Massachusetts and a man famous 
throughout the colonies for his piety and learn- 
ing. He had entered Yale college when he was 
thirteen years old and received the first degree 
in the Arts before reaching the age of seven- 
teen. Before he was nineteen years old he was 
licensed to preach. 

Mr. Edwards accepted the presidency of the 
college and early in the year 1758 removed to 
Prince Town. He attended a meeting of the 
trustees on the sixteenth of February and made 
his formal acceptance at that time. One week 
later he was inoculated for smallpox and on the 
twenty-second of March he died. His active 
endeavors in behalf of the college therefore 
lasted not over four or five weeks. 

“This is the hardest blow the college has re- 
ceived yet,” said Thomas Spencer. “Jonathan 
Edwards was one of the most famous men in 
the colonies. Had he lived I believe he would 
have increased the reputation of the college to 
such an extent that in a short time it would have 
been well known not only all over this country 
but in Europe as well.” 

“ Yes, ” said Henry, ‘ 4 1 think that ’s true. He 
170 


TWO PRESIDENTS 


even impressed me, and I had begun to fear I 
was past hope.” 

“ You’re lazy,” said John. 

“No,” said Henry, “I’m indifferent.” 

“The same thing,” said John. 


171 


CHAPTER XIV 


HENRY HAS AN IDEA 

For sixteen months the College of New Jersey 
was without a president. The choice of a suc- 
cessor had been an exceedingly difficult one for 
the trustees, and it was not made until May 9, 
1759. At that time a meeting of the trustees 
was held and the Reverend Mr. Samuel Davies 
was duly elected. He entered upon his duties 
of office in July but did not take the oaths re- 
quired by the charter until the following Sep- 
tember, the day before the annual commence- 
ment. 

Henry Stirling was now a senior. He had 
not particularly distinguished himself in his 
studies during his college course, except in fits 
and starts. When he tried he did good work, 
but he did not always try. Each winter he had 
applied himself to his studies seriously, but 
with the coming of spring his enthusiasm in- 
variably waned. One thing had happened to 
him, however, that he had not considered pos- 
172 


HENRY HAS AN IDEA 

sible, and that was a feeling of friendship for 
one of the faculty. Mr. Jeremiah Halsey, the 
senior tutor, had taken a personal interest in 
Henry when he first began to teach at the col- 
lege two years previously. He had gone out of 
his way to cultivate the young boy’s friendship 
and gain his confidence, and gradually he had 
succeeded. He was a man who had not for- 
gotten that he was once young himself, he un- 
derstood young men and saw things from their 
point of view. Henry, as time went on, felt him- 
self drawn to Mr. Halsey, more and more; he 
worked for him and tried hard to please him. 
He still had misunderstandings with the other 
members of the faculty, however, and though 
it did not occur as frequently as during his 
earlier residence at Nassau Hall, occasionally 
he still found himself in trouble for breaking 
some one of the numerous rules and regula- 
tions. Mr. Baldridge, the steward, still main- 
tained his attitude of hostility, and this did not 
tend to make things any easier. 

The steward himself did not find life alto- 
gether pleasant. The meals he served were the 
cause of frequent and insistent complaints, and 
such was his nature that he always held it 
173 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 


against the boy who complained and tried to 
get him into difficulties with the faculty. 

“He’s an old skinflint,” exclaimed George 
Dodd, one day shortly after President Davies 
had taken his oath of office. “You know what 
will happen as a result of the new ruling of 
the trustees, don’t you?” 

“What ruling?” asked John Ayres, one of 
the group lying under the trees in front of Nas- 
sau Hall, discussing the food served them ; one 
of their favorite topics of conversation, by the 
way. 

“Haven’t you heard?” demanded George. 
“Why the trustees are not going to pay Bald- 
ridge a regular salary any more, but are to al- 
low him twenty shillings a year for each person 
who boards here; the result will be poorer food 
than ever, though that may scarcely seem pos- 
sible.” 

“Why so?” asked Samuel Pierson. “Does 
that follow necessarily?” 

George looked at him pityingly. “Sam,” he 
said, “sometimes I feel completely discouraged 
about you. You seem so stupid, though you 
really aren’t any more so than the average I 
suppose.” 


174 


HENRY HAS AN IDEA 


Samuel merely grinned. 

“The point is this,” said George. “If old 
Baldridge gets twenty shillings a year from 
every person he feeds and if he spends the whole 
twenty shillings he won’t have anything left 
for himself, will he! On the other hand if he 
only spends fifteen shillings on each person he 
will have something left. The less he spends 
for food the more he’ll make. Is that plain?” 

“In other words,” said John, “he will try to 
make as much as he can for himself and the 
way he’ll do it will be by cutting down on the 
quantity and quality of the food he gets for 
us.” 

c 4 Exactly so, ’ ’ exclaimed George. 6 ‘ Mark my 
words, the rations served us from now on will 
be unfit for human consumption.” 

“Then we’ll fix up something for Mr. Bald- 
ridge,” said Henry, who had been lying on his 
back gazing up into the tree tops. “He doesn’t 
love me the least little bit, and I must say I 
don’t waste a great amount of affection on him. 
A chance to get even for a few of the things he 
has done to me would be very welcome, and not 
altogether unpleasant.” 

“What’s your idea?” demanded John. 

175 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 

“That will become known to a chosen few 
later on,” said Henry, “all depending on 
whether the occasion arises for its employ- 
ment.” 

“Sounds mysterious,” said George. “Don’t 
forget that I am included in any enterprise hav- 
ing as its object getting even with Baldridge 
for the stuff he has served us in the guise of 
food during the past three years. My diges- 
tion is permanently ruined I fear, and he alone 
is to blame.” 

George’s prediction about the food proved to 
be correct. The new arrangement had scarcely 
gone into effect when the students began to 
complain more strenuously than ever before. 
At one meal they arose from the tables and 
walked out of the room in a body, refusing to 
taste the meal set before them. President 
Davies immediately called a meeting of the 
whole student body and delivered a lecture on 
the subject, warning them that a repetition of 
such action would meet with severe punishment. 
He was fair-minded, however, and also warned 
Mr. Baldridge that it was incumbent upon him 
to see to it that the food supplied in the future 
should be of a quality which should satisfy the 
176 


HENRY HAS AN IDEA 


students. For a time it was better, but the im- 
provement was sbort-lived and within a very- 
few days grumbling again was heard and com- 
plaints were frequent. 

“It’s about time to put your idea into effect, 
isn’t it?” George Dodd asked of Henry, coming 
into his room one evening. 

Henry put down a textbook on Natural 
Science he was reading. “I think it is,” said 
he. “And there is no time like the present.” 


177 


CHAPTER XV 


IN THE BUTTERY 

John Ayres was in the room with Henry and 
George when they made np their minds to seek 
revenge on Mr. Baldridge. J ohn naturally was 
of a quiet and serious disposition, and but lit- 
tle inclined to the pranks and escapades of so 
many of the students. In common with the 
other boys he had his grievances against the 
steward, however, and was not unwilling to 
be a party to any scheme which would 
serve to make things unpleasant for that indi- 
vidual. 

“What are you planning to do, Henry V 9 he 
asked. 

“I’ll tell you my idea in a minute,” said 
Henry. “Let’s get Hugh Harris first and see 
if he won’t join the expedition. Four would be 
the right number. ’ ’ 

He stepped out into the hallway, and ran full 
into Mr. Baldridge who had just come around 
the corner at that moment. 

178 


IN THE BUTTERY 


“I beg your pardon, sir,” exclaimed Henry, 
backing away in great confusion. 

“You ran into me purposely,” said Mr. Bald- 
ridge angrily. 

“I assure you, sir, 1 did not,” said Henry 
earnestly. “I had no idea you were anywhere 
about.” 

“I don’t believe you,” exclaimed Mr. Bald- 
ridge warmly. “You never did have any man- 
ners.” 

Henry bit his lip and said nothing. Mr. Bald- 
ridge looked at him angrily, snorted and walked 
on down the hall. Henry waited until he had 
passed out of sight, then he followed him as far 
as the room which Hugh Harris still occupied 
alone. When he returned to his own room, 
accompanied by Hugh, George and John were 
deriving much pleasure from the recent col- 
lision. 

“I believe myself you did it on purpose,” 
said George. 

“I’d like to run into him full force some- 
time,” said Henry grimly. “The old jay bird. 
I never knew there was a man in the world who 
had it in him to infuriate me so.” 

“Too bad you didn’t knock him down,” 
179 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


laughed Hugh. “ What’s this you are planning 
to do to him to-night ?” 

“Shut the door, will you, John?” ashed 
Henry. “We don’t want to run any chance of 
being overheard. ’ ’ 

“Baldridge’s coming down the hall now,” 
said John a moment later, returning from the 
doorway to his seat on the side of the bed. The 
boys kept silent until the footsteps died away 
in the distance. 

“Tell us what your scheme is,” urged 
George. 

“Why it isn’t very much of a scheme,” said 
Henry. “It was just something that occurred 
to me might furnish us some fun and make Mr. 
Baldridge awfully angry.” 

“That’s a good start,” exclaimed George 
eagerly. “Go on.” 

“Any friends of the steward present?” asked 
Henry. 

“Not here or anywhere near here,” said 
Hugh quickly. 

“Well,” said Henry, “it has always seemed 
to me that the things which make Mr. Baldridge 
more angry than anything else are those which 
make him appear ridiculous. Remember the 
180 


IN THE BUTTERY 

time about two years ago when he slipped and 
fell on the floor Y And I laughed so I couldn’t 
stop ? I firmly believe that was the thing which 
first made him really dislike me, and he has 
never got over it. My idea now is that if we 
can prick that puffed up vanity of his and make 
him appear silly before the whole college we 
can get revenge for all those terrible meals bet- 
ter than in any other way.” 

“No doubt of it,” said George. 

“And to-night’s the time to do it,” Henry 
said. “The sooner the better.” 

“Just a moment,” said John. “Here’s a 
point I don’t think you have considered, Henry. 
You know Mr. Baldridge dislikes you, and isn’t 
he liable to suspect you of being the instigator 
of whatever is done? Particularly after your 
running into him in the hallway just a few mo- 
ments ago? Of course this is only a suggestion 
and it may not be worth considering because 
I don’t know the nature of your idea. But this 
thought occurred to me, and it wouldn’t do for 
you to be caught in any escapade just now.” 

“True enough,” said Henry. “I’ve thought 
of that too, but here’s my plan. Suppose we 
should get into the pantry, and help ourselves 
181 


A PEINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

to some of Baldridge’s supply of butter, or what 
he calls butter. Suppose we took about one 
hundred and fifty pounds of it, carried it out- 
side, and carved the figure of a man out of it, 
then hung a sign on it to the effect that it was 
the steward in effigy. Do you think Baldridge 
would be annoyed or flattered ?” 

“He’d be so mad he would probably blow 
up,” exclaimed Hugh gleefully. “It’s a won- 
derful scheme, Henry. I can write a poem too 
if you’d like.” 

“But he’d suspect you, Henry,” John ob- 
jected. 

< ‘ Of course he would, ’ ’ Henry agreed. ‘ ‘ For 
that reason I think I had better not participate, 
so when the row starts I can say I was not 
present. I hate to be out of it, but I really think 
I had better confine my participation in the 
matter to furnishing the idea.” 

“That’s right,” said George. “We can do 
the actual work.” 

“Play is a better term for it,” said Hugh. 

“What time is it?” asked John. 

Henry consulted his watch. “It lacks just 
ten minutes of nine o’clock.” 

“You’d better go to your rooms,” said John, 
182 


IN THE BUTTERY 

addressing Hugh and George. “We certainly 
can’t start before the nine o’clock bell and it 
would probably be safer if we waited for an 
hour after that. We must give every one a 
chance to get well asleep.” 

‘ i Suppose we come back at ten or shortly af- 
ter ten,” said George. 

“How are we going to the buttery?” asked 
Hugh. ‘ ‘ Certainly not by way of the main hall- 
way and the stairs ! ’ ’ 

“I suggest that you use my rope and go down 
the outside of the building,” said Henry. “It’s 
the easiest way.” 

“Good,” George exclaimed. “We’ll be back 
at ten o’clock.” 

“And be quiet,” whispered John as the two 
boys left the room. 

“Henry,” he said when they had gone, “this 
is going to cause a scandal in the college which 
will mean dismissal for the ones responsible.” 

“If they are discovered,” said Henry. 

“That’s true, of course.” 

The nine o’clock bell commenced to ring a 
moment later, and it became necessary to blow 
out the candles and leave the room in darkness 
until the tutor had made his round of inspec- 
183 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

tion. When he had gone the two boys crept to 
the door and hung a blanket over it so that no 
light could penetrate the crevices ; they hung an- 
other blanket over the window, and then lighted 
a candle. They accomplished all this with des- 
patch and quiet, it being a common practice of 
theirs. Several times too they had had parties 
in their rooms which had lasted far into the 
night, some of the guests had not been students, 
but friends of Henry in the town, who had ar- 
rived by way of the window and the rope. 

The first thing Henry did this night was to 
take his rope out from under the mattress and 
attach it firmly to one leg of the bed, and coil 
the rest of it on the floor where it would be con- 
venient to the window. Then he and John lay 
on the bed and conversed in low tones about the 
expedition they had planned. The idea of carv- 
ing Mr. Baldridge in effigy and using butter 
for the purpose appealed strongly to John. A 
dozen times he felt in his pocket to make cer- 
tain his knife was there so that he could do his 
full share of the work. 

“We’ve got to make a sign for the statue,” 
exclaimed Henry suddenly, and sprang out of 
bed. “You’re not such good sculptors that 
184 


IN THE BUTTERY 

many people will be able to recognize the figure 
you make as representing Old Baldridge unless 
you hang a sign on it, with his name printed on 
it.” 

“Let me do that,” said John. “You mustn’t 
do a single thing.” 

“All right,” laughed Henry, and handed the 
quill pen and a sheet of white paper over to his 
roommate. 

J ohn dipped the quill into the ink bottle and 
printed on the piece of paper ‘ ‘ SIMIAN BALD- 
RIDGE.” He handed it to Henry for his in- 
spection. Henry looked at it and then had to 
bury his face in the pillow to keep from laugh- 
ing aloud. 

“John,” he exclaimed, “you have a truly 
wonderful mind. Who but you could have 
thought of spelling his first name that way in- 
stead of E-O-N? Now I am sure he will burst 
with rage. To be carved in effigy is bad enough, 
but to be described as a monkey in addition will 
give him apoplexy.” 

“I hope no one will discover who did the 
deed,” said John. 

“Don’t worry about that for a moment,” said 
Henry confidently. “Wfhy the whole college is 
185 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

complaining of the food and there is no reason 
why any one of the students shouldn't be sus- 
pected. No one will suspect you, John, I am 
sure; you are such a model student." 

“I do try to work and make the most of my 
opportunities," said John simply. 

“It makes me feel guilty to hear you say 
that," said Henry. “Iam such a loafer and a 
good-for-nothing myself." 

He took out his watch and consulted it by the 
light of the candle. Simultaneously there came 
a scratching at the door. “Who is it?" 
John whispered cautiously from within the 
room. 

“It is I," replied the voice of George Dodd. 

John opened the door quietly, and George 
stepped in followed by Thomas Spencer. 
“Why, Thomas," exclaimed John after he had 
closed the door behind them. “What are you 
doing here?" 

“I met George as he was leaving your room 
just before ni/e o'clock," said George, “and I 
could tell by the expression on his face that 
some mischief was brewing. I persuaded him 
to tell me what it was, and learning that the 
party was originally planned to consist of four, 
186 


IN THE BUTTERY 

I thought perhaps I could take Henry’s place 
and join the expedition.” 

“You won’t say anything about it, will you?” 
asked J ohn anxiously. 

Thomas laughed. “You don’t think I’d tell 
on myself, do you?” he demanded. “Of course 
I don’t want to force myself on you though if 
you think I had better not come along.” 

“We want you to come,” said John. 
i ‘ Where ’s Hugh I wonder ? ’ ’ 

Hugh appeared presently and plans for their 
procedure were hastily made. The candle was 
extinguished, the window opened, and the rope 
let down the outside of the building. Then the 
four boys who were to make the raid on the 
buttery removed their shoes, so as to make as 
little noise as possible. John thrust his head 
out of the window to see if the way was clear 
and observing that the building was in complete 
darkness, decided it was safe to go ahead. He 
swung himself out of the window and clutching 
the knotted rope in both hands began to lower 
himself to the ground. Thomas followed, then 
George, then Hugh. Henry leaned on the sill 
and strained his eyes to see what they were do- 
ing. All he could make out was a dark blot on 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

the ground, and presently it moved away and 
was absorbed in the shadows. 

Hugh led the way, and came first to the win- 
dow opening into the buttery. It was raised for 
ventilation as usual, and he had no trouble in 
climbing through it. His three companions fol-< 
lowed close behind, and once safely inside they 
stood and listened for several moments to be 
certain that no one was moving about who might 
discover their presence. Complete quiet reigned 
and they were encouraged to feel their way 
forward once more. They moved with ex- 
treme caution doing their utmost to make no 
sound. 

“Do you know where he keeps the butter V* 
whispered John. 

“ I do, ’ ’ said Hugh. “In a hogshead behind 
the door, just ahead/ ’ 

He stumbled over a chair in the darkness and 
the scrape of the legs on the stone floor seemed 
to the boys the loudest sound they had ever 
heard. For several minutes they scarcely dared 
to breathe while they strained their ears for any 
sign that the noise had aroused any one. Re- 
assured at length by the unbroken stillness, they 
crept on again. 


188 


IN THE BUTTERY 

''Here it is,” whispered Hugh presently. 
“This is the hogshead.” 

“Is the door open?” George inquired. 

Thomas discovered that it was not barred 
and could be opened at their pleasure. “We 
had better bolt it, and do our work inside I 
think,” he whispered. “Then when we are all 
finished we can carry the image upstairs and 
place it in the main hall. ’ ’ 

“Meanwhile we must have a light,” said 
Hugh. “Let’s hope there are some live coals 
in the stove.” This proved to be the case and 
a moment later two candles, brought along in 
John’s pockets, were lighted and placed on the 
floor. The light they shed was faint and flick- 
ering, but it was sufficient. 

The top was removed from the hogshead and 
with their knives the boys cut out great squares 
of butter and placed them side by side on the 
floor. Everything had been arranged in ad- 
vance; Hugh was to make the head and the 
neck. Thomas the legs, John the arms and 
George the body. Each boy set to work with a 
will. The butter was soft enough to permit of 
its being molded without difficulty, and it did 
not require many moments for each boy to corn- 
189 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

plete his particular part of the task, for no 
thought of anything but a rough model of a man 
was contemplated. 

‘ ‘ Shall we put him together here?” chuckled 
George. 

“No,” said Hugh, “let’s each carry his part 
upstairs and we’ll join them up there.” 

He opened the door and carrying the head of 
the yellow statue under one arm stepped out 
into the hallway. “Better bring a candle, 
John,” he whispered, turning around. “We’ll 
need it getting up the stairs.” 

“I can’t carry a candle,” said John. “My 
hands are full of arms.” 

George began to giggle at this and had con- 
siderable difficulty in getting control of him- 
self. Meanwhile his companions muttered im- 
precations, threatening him with torture and 
death if he should be the cause of their being 
discovered. 

Hugh took one of the candles when George’s 
mirth had finally subsided, and led the way 
through the dark passageway to the stairs. He 
mounted slowly, his companions following in 
single file, stocking-footed. They came to the 
top of the stairs, and halted by the door, lis- 
190 


IN THE BUTTERY 


tening for any suspicious sound. Hearing noth- 
ing, Hugh pushed the door open cautiously and 
stepped out into the hallway. On tip-toe they 
skulked along the dark deserted passage and 
presently came to the main entrance hall, di- 
rectly back of which was situated the dining hall 
and refectory. 

“ Stretch him out on the table,’ ’ whispered 
Hugh. “On his back.” 

A long table was placed against the wall on 
one side, and a moment later George had laid 
the body of the image there. Each one of the 
other boys stepped up in turn and joined his 
part of the statue to the torso. Hugh held the 
candle so that they could see what they were 
doing and when the work was completed the 
four boys ranged themselves alongside the table 
to admire their handiwork. Then John drew" 
from under his jacket the sign he had printed 
and placed it on the table in back of the yellow 
figure, leaning it against the wall. 

1 1 ‘ Simian Baldridge, ’ ’ ’ George read. 1 ‘ He ’ll 
certainly be mad.” 

“Let us hope so,” chuckled Hugh. “Here’s 
my contribution.” 

He took a slip of paper from his pocket. 

191 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

Through two holes in it he had thrust a thin 
stick of wood so that it was held rigidly in 
place. He stuck one end of the stick into the 
stomach of the image and the paper stood up 
like the sail of a square-rigged ship. 

“What’s on it?” demanded George. 

“It’s a poem,” said Hugh. “Read it.” 

He held the candle close to the piece of paper, 
and the three other boys leaned over eagerly to 
read the verse Hugh had composed. John read 
aloud : 

“Oh Baldridge was a steward 
At the College of N. J. 

Who served the students greasy food 
At each meal every day. 

He gave them fat, but never lean, 

Till one night if you please 
He just turned into butter 
And here he lies in grease.” 

“Poor poetry,” said George, “but the senti- 
ments are excellent.” 

“You can’t expect any poet to turn out a 
finished piece in a half-hour,” said Hugh, some- 
what offended. 

“Of course not,” said George, “and I didn’t 
mean any criticism. It’s splendid.” 

192 


IN THE BUTTERY 

“And combined with John’s sign ought to 
serve our purpose, don’t you think?” said 
Hugh. 

“No question about it,” chuckled George. 
“Now if everything has been done hadn’t we 
better leave as quickly as we can?” 

They stole a last look at the crude yellow fig- 
ure stretched out on the table, and with Hugh 
leading, candle in hand, began to retrace their 
steps the way they had come. In silence they 
crept down the stairs, through the buttery, and 
then out through the window. Not until they 
stood on solid ground outside the building did 
they breathe freely, and even then they realized 
that the danger of discovery was not past by 
any means. They still were obliged to scale 
the side of Nassau Hall and climbing up a rope 
at night is not the easiest thing in the world to 
do even if the rope has big knots tied in it every 
few feet. 

Henry had been watching for their return for 
a long time, and was becoming worried at their 
continued absence. He was immensely relieved 
therefore when by the faint light of the stars 
he discovered his four friends skulking along 
towards him. He let the rope down again, for 
193 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


he had pulled it in while his friends were away, 
and after a short wait Hugh’s smiling face ap- 
peared in the window. At least it turned out 
to be Hugh’s, for Henry had extinguished the 
light and could not see anything clearly. He 
helped Hugh enter, and John and George fol- 
lowed soon after. Thomas had elected to be 
the last one of the four to climb the rope. 
Henry, peering out the window, saw him start 
a moment later. 

Then an unexpected thing happened. 


194 


CHAPTER XVI 


THE YELLOW STATUE 

There came a sudden crash of falling glass. 
The four boys gathered in the room on the sec- 
ond floor of Nassau Hall had been whispering 
and laughing delightedly over the success of 
their exploit, and when they heard this noise 
their hearts almost stopped beating. They 
crowded to the window each one trying to dis- 
cover its cause, but the casement was narrow 
and Henry and George being the first to act 
were the only ones who could see. 

“What’s the matter?” demanded Hugh ex- 
citedly; 

‘ ‘ Ssh, ’ ’ hissed Henry, turning around. ‘ ‘ Tom 
kicked a pane out of the window below. Hugh, 
you and George get back to your rooms just as 
fast as you can go. Don’t argue,” he insisted 
as they started to protest. “Hurry!” 

He pushed them towards the door, then re- 
turned to the window to see what he could do 
to help Thomas. That individual’s head was 
195 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

just appearing over the sill. Henry grasped 
him by the shoulders and dragged him into the 
room. 

“Are you hurt!” he demanded. 

“No, but I’m angry with myself,” gasped 
Thomas. 

“Forget about that,” said Henry. “Run for 
your room as fast as you can. John, haul up 
that rope.” 

John had not waited to be told about this. 
He already had the rope piled on the floor and 
was untying the end of it which was fastened 
to the leg of the bedstead. Henry shoved 
Thomas through the doorway into the hall and 
shut the door behind him. 

“Here, John,” he whispered excitedly, 
“stick the rope under the mattress, take your 
clothes off as fast as you can and get into bed.” 
These various things were done in an extraor- 
dinarily short time. Scarcely two minutes had 
elapsed from the time of Thomas’s entrance 
through the window until the roommates were 
in bed and under the covers. Neither of them 
spoke. They were listening for sounds of peo- 
ple moving about. All seemed quiet on the 
second floor, but from below came the faint 
196 


THE YELLOW STATUE 

sound of footsteps and a window being closed. 

“Do you think Thomas, and George and 
Hugh got back to their rooms safely?’’ whis- 
pered John finally. 

1 i I think so, ’ ’ said Henry. ‘ 1 1 certainly trust 
so.” 

“It ’s bad business,” said John, “and will 
make trouble for some one. Do you suppose 
we shall be suspected of having a rope?” 

“We’ll get it out of here the first thing in the 
morning. Then if the rooms are searched they 
won’t find anything here.” 

“So clumsy of Thomas,” said John. “Who 
lives in the room underneath?” 

“Mr. Halsey.” 

“One of the faculty,” groaned John. “We’ll 
be suspected sure.” 

“Listen,” said Henry. 

Some one was walking along the hall. The 
two boys lay in bed, scarcely breathing, waiting 
to learn the destination of the person approach- 
ing. If they had only known it three other boys 
were also wide awake listening with equal at- 
tention to the same sounds. The footsteps on 
the stone floor in the dead of night sounded un- 
naturally loud. To the listening boys they 
197 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


seemed to shake the whole building, to crash 
and reecho through the deserted corridors, and 
as they came nearer and nearer they felt as if 
they were heralding the approach of doom. 
Outside their door the footsteps halted, and 
John and Henry, lying in bed wide-eyed and 
tense, fully expected to hear a knock at their 
door and have one of the tutors enter. After 
a pause of what was probably only two or three 
seconds, but which seemed to the two boys to 
drag itself out into hours, the midnight walker 
moved on and presently the sound of his foot- 
steps died away in the distance. 

“Who was that, do you suppose ?” whispered 
John. 

“I have no idea. Baldridge, maybe.’ ’ 

“Probably,” said John. “It would be just 
our luck too to have him find the statue down 
in the hall and remove it.” 

“That would be a calamity,” said Henry. 
“Let’s hope you’re wrong.” 

“Well, whatever happens, one thing is sure,” 
said John emphatically, “and that is that to- 
morrow is going to be a lively day around Nas- 
sau Hall — ” 

“That’s an easy prophecy to make,” said 
198 


THE YELLOW STATUE 


Henry. < ‘ My only hope is that when the storm 
breaks we shall not be the center of it . 1 9 

Luck was with them in one respect. Mr. 
Baldridge was slightly indisposed the follow- 
ing morning, and did not come downstairs at 
his customary time. Most mornings he was 
down a half-hour before breakfast, and if there 
had been no exception this particular day no 
doubt he would himself have discovered the 
image reclining on the table in the entrance hall 
and removed it before the students arrived on 
the scene. As it happened, however, he reached 
the entrance hall coincident with most of the 
students and there stretched out before the view 
of all was the figure carved in butter. The 
sign, “SIMIAN BALDRIDGE,” resting 
against the wall behind it was plain to see and 
no one present could fail to grasp its signifi- 
cance. 

Henry and John came down the stairs just 
behind Mr. Baldridge. They were not the first 
to arrive and a confused jumble of shouts, 
laughter and talk greeted their ears as they 
approached. Henry nudged his roommate. 

“Good morning, Mr. Baldridge,” he said 
pleasantly. 


199 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

The steward swung around. “Good morn- 
ing,” he said shortly. 

Then the noise in the entrance hall grew 
louder, and Mr. Baldridge, muttering some- 
thing under his breath, hurried ahead. Pande- 
monium reigned. 

George Dodd was standing at the head of the 
statue, holding in one hand the poem Hugh had 
written, using the other for spectacular ges- 
tures. As the steward, John and Henry entered, 
he was just finishing. 

“He just turned into butter 
And here he lies in grease,” 

they heard him read. 

Shouts of applause greeted the verse, and 
then suddenly there was quiet as the subject 
of the poem entered the room. The students 
fell back from the table, as Mr. Baldridge 
strode forward. He walked up the aisle formed 
by the separated groups of boys, straight to 
the yellow statue. For a tense moment he stood 
in silence and looked at it. Then he reached 
over, seized the sign John had printed, tore it 
into small pieces, threw them on the floor and 
wheeled to face the assemblage gathered there 
200 


THE YELLOW STATUE 


watching him. His face was blanched, his lips 
drawn close across his teeth and his hands 
worked convulsively. He opened his mouth to 
speak, but no sound issued forth. He swal- 
lowed hard, and then suddenly he got control of 
himself. 

“Go into breakfast,” he snapped, and 
stamped his foot angrily. 

Without a word the students turned and filed 
into the dining room. They sat down at the 
tables in silence, and not a word was spoken 
for some moments. No one seemed to want to 
take the responsibility of saying the first word. 
Then George Dodd, always an adventurous 
spirit, looked at Hugh Harris, who was seated 
opposite him at the table. 

“The bacon is not quite as fat as usual this 
morning, is it?” he asked, his face a mask and 
his tone entirely conversational. 

Laughter filled the room immediately and a 
buzz of talk took the place of the previous si- 
lence. Mr. Baldridge had not come into break- 
fast as was his wont, but a few moments later 
President Davies appeared. The students all 
rose from their seats and stood respectfully as 
he entered. He paused in the doorway and 
201 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

glanced about the room. Then he held up his 
hand. His face was serious and stern. 

“ Young gentlemen/ ’ he said, “I have just 
been informed of the unfortunate occurrence 
of this morning. I need not say, I am sure, that 
such a breach of courtesy on the part of the 
student body towards one of the members of 
the faculty gives me great pain and distress. I 
am chagrined to think that any of my students 
should be so lacking in respect that they should 
be guilty of an offense against good manners 
so gross and so serious as the one just brought 
to my attention. It gives me the deepest con- 
cern and I warn the offenders that everything 
will be done to discover their identity and fix 
the blame where it belongs. Further, — but this 
should not be construed as in any way excus- 
ing them, — I shall myself take up the matter of 
food served here and if it can be improved in 
quality I shall use my best efforts to bring 
about an improvement. ,, 

He turned and left the room without an- 
other word. The students resumed their seats 
and finished their meal. 

“ Whoever did it deserves a vote of thanks 
from the students if the result is more palat- 
202 


THE YELLOW STATUE 


able food,” said George Dodd to Samuel Pier- 
son who was seated on his right. 

“Martyrs in a good cause,” said Samuel, 
who, by the way, knew perfectly well the iden- 
tity of those who were responsible. 

This seemed to be the general sentiment, and 
every one in the room felt that he owed a per- 
sonal debt of gratitude to whoever it was that 
had planned and carried into execution the 
carving and placing of the statue, and the prep- 
aration of the sign and the verse. 

The meal over, the students scattered to their 
rooms to discuss the event in detail, laugh about 
it and rejoice over the humiliation of the pom- 
pous steward and the prospect of better meals 
to come. 

“It couldn’t have worked out better if it had 
been rehearsed,” said Henry when he and John 
had reached their room on the second floor. 
“The whole setting was perfect, just like a 
scene from a play.” 

“I felt kind of sorry for Baldridge,” said 
John, gazing out of the window. 

“Sorry for Baldridge?” echoed Henry. 
“Don’t be ridiculous. He deserved it all, every 
bit of it, and if he were honest I’ll wager he’d 
203 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


admit it himself. And what’s more, I believe 
President Davies knows he deserved it.” 

“If he finds out who did it he’ll have them 
punished just as severely though. I’d hate to 
be expelled my senior year.” 

‘ ‘ Don ’t be so gloomy, ’ ’ laughed Henry. ‘ ‘ And 
what’s more, stop worrying. If the ones who 
did it are discovered they’ll be punished of 
course. The authorities will have to do some- 
thing to them for the sake of appearances. But 
there’s no more chance of their being expelled 
than there is of my being the faculty’s favorite 
student.” 

“You think so?” 

“I’m sure of it.” 

“What about the broken window in Hr. Hal- 
sey’s room?” 

“Which reminds me,” exclaimed Henry, 
“that the rope is still under the mattress. We 
ought to get it out of here.” 

“I’ll take it over to Thomas’s room,” said 
John. 

A moment later, the rope under his jacket, 
he had crossed the hallway and the door of the 
room occupied by Samuel and Thomas closed 
behind him. Henry sat down by the window, 
204 


THE YELLOW STATUE 


ostensibly to go over the arithmetic lesson set 
for that day, but in reality to think about the 
events of the morning and the preceding night. 

He honestly believed that there was really 
slight danger of any serious punishment being 
meted out to the offenders, in case it were es- 
tablished who they were. The poor quality of 
the food furnished by Mr. Baldridge was a mat- 
ter of common knowledge, not only among the 
students and faculty, but even the trustees of 
the college. At times it had almost reached the 
proportions of a scandal, and Henry felt that 
the authorities would consider the students 
more or less justified in taking matters into 
their own hands. He was sure, too, that the im- 
mediate object of the whole undertaking, — the 
obtaining of better food, — would be obtained. 
He wished he had personally been able to par- 
ticipate in the making of the statue. He had 
wanted, too, an opportunity to examine it more 
closely than he had been able to do. When the 
students had come out from breakfast it had 
been removed, and before breakfast, during 
the scene when Mr. Baldridge had discovered 
himself carved in effigy, he had had only the 
most casual glance at it. But he could not 
205 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

deny that on the whole the undertaking had 
been an unqualified success. 

Then he thought of the broken window be- 
low. Therein lay possibilities of serious com- 
plications he feared. Of course some one might 
imagine that the students who had carved the 
statue had thrown a stone through one of the 
professor’s windows and the existence of the 
rope be unsuspected. But if a stone had been 
thrown it would have fallen in Mr. Halsey’s 
room, and of course no such thing had happened. 

4 ‘Perhaps it’s only because we feel guilty 
that we think we may be connected with the 
broken window,” he argued to himself. “Let’s 
hope so anyway and trust to Mr. Halsey not to 
make a fuss. Meanwhile I’ll have a look at it.” 

He went to the window and placing both 
hands on the sill leaned far out in an effort to 
get a view of the broken pane in the room be- 
neath. The glass was set so deeply in the 
casement, however, that he could see nothing. 
He relinquished the effort and withdrew from 
the window. And at that moment there came a 
sharp knock at the door. 


206 


CHAPTER XVII 


A TUTOR CALLS 

“Come in,” said Henry, turning the arithmetic 
book back up on the table. 

The door opened and Mr. Halsey entered. 
He smiled a greeting, but his face was serious 
and there was a troubled look in his eyes. 

“Good morning, sir,” said Henry. 

“Good morning, Henry,” said Mr. Halsey. 

“Won’t you sit down, sir?” Henry pushed 
a chair forward. 

“Thank you.” 

Mr. Halsey seated himself and remained si- 
lent for a few moments, gazing out the window 
and drumming with his fingers on the arm of 
the chair. 

‘ ‘ Sit down, Henry, ’ ’ he said finally. 

Henry was nervous. He knew that Mr. Hal- 
sey’s call was surely connected with the pre- 
vious night’s escapade, and he did not relish the 
idea of being questioned about it. He sat on the 
edge of the bed, swinging his heels, waiting for 
207 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


Mr. Halsey to reopen the conversation. He did 
not have long to wait, for presently the tutor 
turned and looked him straight in the eye. 

44 Henry,’ ’ he said, “I like you/’ 

This was the last thing Henry had expected 
him to say, and he was completely nonplussed. 
He blushed deeply, and for a moment was un- 
able to think of anything to say in reply. 

4 4 Thank you, sir, ’ ’ he stammered finally. 

4 4 That is not what I have come here to talk 
about, however,’ ’ Mr. Halsey went on slowly. 

4 4 Yes, sir,” said Henry, thoroughly uncom- 
fortable. 

4 4 Mr. Baldridge may have deserved what hap- 
pened to him last night, or he may not. I don’t 
want to discuss the merits of the case. Nor do 
I know who made the statue, or placed it in the 
hall. I’m not interested in that.” 

Henry began to get puzzled and wonder what 
it could be that Mr. Halsey did want. Not 
knowing did not make him any more comfort- 
able. 

4 4 My point is this,” Mr. Halsey continued. 

4 4 You may not be aware of it, but when any 
prank is played by a student, or any mischief is 
afoot, the faculty are wont to suspect that a boy 
208 


A TUTOR CALLS 

named Henry Stirling is connected with it. 
This may be entirely unjust but it is a fact.” 

“Yes, sir,” said Henry, not knowing what 
else to say. 

“Do you know him?” 

“Yes, sir,” said Henry with a sheepish grin. 

“Do you think there are any grounds for 
their suspecting him?” 

“Of what happened last night, or of things 
in general?” 

“Things in general.” 

“Sometimes,” said Henry. 

“I know him pretty well,” said Mr. Halsey, 
“and I like him immensely. He is a hoy who 
I think has great possibilities for good and I 
know the other students like him and look on 
him as their leader in many ways. Now I don’t 
object to any one having a good time, and I like 
fun as well as the next man. It is possible, 
however, to think so much about having fun 
that the more serious things in life become neg- 
lected, and that isn’t wise. What is more, 
such a course eventually makes fun impossible, 
because it leads to trouble. Do I sound as if 
I were preaching to you?” 

“No, sir. What you say is true of course.” 
209 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


‘ ‘I’m glad you agree with me. Now, I want 
to get your opinion and see if you won’t say 
something to Henry Stirling; use your influ- 
ence with him ; he is a senior and will be ready 
to graduate inside of a year ; he can make it a 
wonderful year if he will; he has brains and 
all he needs to do is to use them.” 

“He does like fun,” said Henry slowly. 
“There’s no reason why he shouldn’t have 
lots of it,” said Mr. Halsey. “There is also 
no reason why he shouldn’t rank with the best 
students in the college. If he did that I believe 
he’d appreciate his fun much more than he does 
now. Do you think I am right f ’ ’ 

Henry did not answer for some time. He was 
thinking of the various periods of his college 
career, comparing them and considering them 
from the standpoint of results obtained. He 
wondered when he had been happiest, when his 
mind and thoughts were concentrated on having 
a good time to the exclusion of all else, or when 
study had been his first consideration. He had 
had many good times and even had enjoyed 
breaking the college rules. This always meant 
uncomfortable moments, worriment, and some- 
times remorse, while he could not deny that 
210 


A TUTOR CALLS 


knowledge of having done his work well and the 
feeling of having done his duty gave him a sense 
of satisfaction he did not get in any other 
way. 

Mr. Halsey watched him, a half smile on his 
face. 

‘ 4 It’s a real problem, isn’t it?” he said. 

“The correct answer is easy, but the hard 
part is carrying it out.” 

“Of course,” laughed Mr. Halsey. “Most 
men know what they ought to do, but only the 
real men do it.” 

He rose to his feet. “I’m going back to my 
room now. I don’t want you to promise me any- 
thing, because I think it ’s wrong to ask boys to 
make promises. I just hope you’ll think a little 
bit about what I’ve said, and that you will try 
to make this last year of yours at Nassau Hall 
count for something worth while.” 

Henry took the outstretched hand of the tu- 
tor. 

“You are very kind, Mr. Halsey,” he said. 
“I shan’t forget what you have said to me.” 

“That’s all I want,” said Mr. Halsey. 
i 1 Come and see me when you have an opportun- 
ity. My room is right below yours you know.” 

211 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

“Yes, sir, I know that,” said Henry, thinking 
of the broken window. 

Mr. Halsey did not show by the expression of, 
his face that he was thinking of any such thing, 
however. He smiled genially at Henry and 
moved towards the door. ‘ 4 1 hope we shall get 
better acquainted/ ’ he said, and went out. 

When he had gone Henry shut the door, and 
thrusting his hands into his pockets began to 
pace up and down the room, deep in thoughts 
His thoughts were interrupted a few moments 
later, however, by the arrival of John and 
Thomas. 

“We were just starting over here when we 
saw old Halsey at the door/’ said Thomas. 
“What was he snooping around here for?” 

“He was not snooping,” said Henry warmly. 
“And he is a fine man, and a good friend of 
mine.” 

Thomas sank limply into a chair. “John,” 
he said, ‘ ‘ would you mind pinching me ? I think 
I must be asleep, for it seemed to me I heard 
Henry say that a member of the faculty is 
a good friend of his. I certainly am dream- 
ing.” 

“Don’t be silly,” said John. “What did he 
212 


A TUTOR CALLS 

want, Henry ? Did lie ask yon what you knew of 
the Baldridge affair? Lucky we had removed 
the rope before he came, wasn’t it?” 

“The only mention he made of the Baldridge 
affair was to say he was not interested in it, and 
didn’t care who had carved the figure.” 

“I guess he must have stopped in to ask 
Henry about some particularly difficult transla- 
tion from the Greek,” said Thomas with a wink 
at John. 

Henry ignored this remark. Mr. Halsey’s 
few words had made a deep impression on him 
and he was in no mood for joking. He told the 
two other boys just what he and the tutor had 
talked about. 

“I am convinced he suspects that I was in- 
volved in the Baldridge escapade,” he said, 
“but he wouldn’t tell on me or any one else if 
he possibly could help it. I’m equally convinced 
of that.” 

“Do you suppose he suspects you of smash- 
ing his window?” asked Thomas, now thor- 
oughly serious and also impressed by what Mr. 
Halsey had said, as reported by Henry. 

“I don’t know at all,” said Henry. “I really 
don’t care. “What I do care about though is 
213 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


his opinion of me in the future. I'm going to 
turn over a new leaf.” 

“No more stealing out at night?” asked 
Thomas. “No more visits to the taverns? No 
more secret feasts in this room after hours?” 

Henry had been standing in front of the 
window during this conversation, his back to the 
occupants of the room. As Thomas finished 
speaking, however, he suddenly wheeled about 
and clasped his temples in both hands. 

“Great heavens,” he exclaimed. 

“What's the matter, Henry?” John de- 
manded. 

“Oh nothing much,” said Henry casually, 
“except that I have planned for a party here 
this very evening.” 

“Cancel it,” said John. 

“I can’t. I’ve invited two outsiders.” 

“Who are to arrive by way of the rope and 
the window, I suppose?” 

“Exactly.” 

“Can’t you send them word?” 

“It’s impossible. I don’t know where to 
reach them.” 

“Well, if you don’t mind my saying so,” said 
Thomas, “I think you’re very foolish to try to 
214 


A TUTOR CALLS 


have a party here to-night. The faculty will 
be on the lookout for any infractions of the 
rules after what was done to Baldridge. Mr. 
Halsey was extremely decent about his window 
last night, but he may not be so pleased if any- 
thing happens to-night.’ ’ 

“I know it,” said Henry gloomily, “but what 
can I do?” 

“Who’s coming?” asked John. 

“Jason Work for one.” 

“Your soldier friend?” 

“Yes. Roger Brown is another.” 

“Any students?” 

“I expected you and Thomas of course. Also 
Hugh, George and Samuel.” 

“You’d better cancel it,” urged Thomas seri- 
ously. “It is a big risk. Old Baldridge will be 
pacing around the building all night long just 
waiting for a chance to find somebody breaking 
the rules. If he should catch you you know 
what would happen.” 

1 ‘ Of course I know, ’ ’ said Henry. “It’s most 
unfortunate. I’ve got cider, too, and pastry, 
tobacco, pipes and rum. It has cost me quite 
a penny to get ready for it. Even so I’d give 
it up if I thought I could notify Work and 
215 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 

Brown. But Jason I know was riding to Free- 
hold this morning and will not return till eve- 
ning. Besides it would be extremely impolite 
to recall the invitation. ’ ’ 

“He would understand,” said John. 

“I think I’ll go through with it,” said Henry. 

“What would Mr. Halsey think of you?” 

4 4 That ’s the hard part, ’ ’ Henry admitted. 4 4 1 
gave him to understand that from now on I was 
going to be a model student and I should hate 
to have him look on me as a hypocrite.” 

4 4 Cancel it then,” urged John. 

Henry was silent for a time. “I can’t,” he 
said finally. “I really don’t see how I can. I 
appreciate the risks, the risk of getting into 
trouble with the authorities and the risk of los- 
ing Mr. Halsey’s good opinion. But I’m going 
to run those risks just the same. I feel that I 
must and that is all there is to it.” 

Thomas and John knew his mind was made 
up. They had seen Henry decide things before 
and they knew from the tone of his voice that 
there was not the slightest advantage to be 
gained from arguing with him. 

4 4 1 ’m sorry, ’ ’ said J ohn with a sigh. 4 4 1 think 
you’re making a mistake.” 

216 


A TUTOR CALLS 


“No doubt.” 

Henry shrugged his shoulders and turned 
away. So far as he was concerned the discus- 
sion was closed. He seated himself by the 
window, picked up his arithmetic book from the 
table and opened it to the assignment for that 
day. A moment later he was deeply engrossed 
in it, and so far as could be judged from ap- 
pearances was unconscious that his two friends 
were in the room with him. 

John and Thomas exchanged glances. 

“I must go,” said Thomas. “I promised to 
help Sam with his Greek.” 

“I’ll come too if you don’t mind,” said John. 
“I didn’t spend much time on to-day’s lessons.” 

He followed Thomas to the door, and Henry 
looked up from his book. 

“You’ve got my rope in your room, haven’t 
you, Thomas?” he asked. 

“Yes. John brought it over a little while 
ago.” 

“I’ll stop in and get it some time to-day if you 
don’t mind.” 


217 


CHAPTER XVIII 


AT THE WINDOW 

The college buzzed with gossip all that day. 
Mr. Baldridge did not appear at dinner or at 
supper, but nevertheless he and the statue were 
the main topics of conversation. Speculation 
was rife as to who was responsible, but the 
participants guarded their identity well and no 
one really had anything more than a guess to 
offer. 

Henry sat at the head of the table at dinner, 
it being his turn to carve. This was a task 
which each student performed in rotation, and 
a popular duty it was, because it gave the 
carver an opportunity to pay special attention 
to his own needs and save out choice morsels 
for himself. At any rate the carver was usually 
accused of this, whether he did it or not. George 
liked to explain such accusations by saying that 
the meat cut and served to the boys gathered 
around the table was so extremely bad that they 
could not help feeling that what the carver re- 
218 


AT THE WINDOW 


served for himself must be an improvement. 
“It’s so bad,” he would say, 4 ‘that anything 
different must be better.” 

Henry began that night to realize the truth 
of what Mr. Halsey had said to him earlier in 
the day about being suspected of having some- 
thing to do with all the pranks played around 
the college. This suspicion evidently was not 
confined to the faculty either for it was easy 
for him to see that most of the students sus- 
pected him of being responsible for this latest 
escapade. 

“How’s the meat to-day, Henry?” some one 
would say. “Better than usual?” 

“This is a delicious bit of meat you have 
given me, Henry, ’ ’ another would add. ‘ ‘ I hope 
you’re not depriving yourself, or is it all good 
to-day?” 

“I wish Mr. Baldridge were here,” a third 
would say with a sigh. “It’s a shame for him 
to miss a delicious roast like this. How do you 
suppose it happened to be so good, Henry?” 

“Perhaps Henry urged the steward to outdo 
himself in honor of its being his turn to carve,” 
some one else would add, and wink at his neigh- 
bor across the table. 


219 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

1 ‘You didn’t do anything to Mr. Baldridge to 
make him consider an improvement in the food, 
did you, Henry ?” 

Questions like these were being addressed to 
him constantly, not always directly, but he 
knew for whom they were intended. In reply 
to all of them he merely smiled, never answer- 
ing in words if he could avoid it. Once he 
caught Mr. Halsey’s eye. The tutor was seated 
at the adjoining table, and as his glance met 
Henry’s he solemnly winked one eye. Henry 
blushed, for he knew that Mr. Halsey’s thoughts 
were the same as his and that the tutor recog- 
nized that the students all suspected him of com- 
plicity in the Baldridge affair. In fact, a ma- 
jority of them probably looked upon him as the 
ringleader. 

Another reason why Henry blushed was be- 
cause of the party he had planned for that eve- 
ning. He knew from the look on Mr. Halsey’s 
face that the tutor trusted him, and he felt like 
a hypocrite. He realized that Mr. Halsey sus- 
pected him of participation in the previous 
night’s escapade, but was too decent to tell on 
him. But he felt that his duty to the guests 
he had invited was paramount to all else, and 
22Q 


AT THE WINDOW 

his mind was made up to risk the possible con- 
sequences. 

“ Henry is blushing,” exclaimed one of the 
boys, noting the crimson flush on his face. “No 
doubt it is a blush of modesty.” 

“Why modesty?” demanded another. 

“Because he hesitates to claim credit for the 
improvement in the food,” the first one replied. 
A general laugh greeted these words, and 
Henry began to feel irritated. Jokes were all 
right, and he liked them even when they were 
at his own expense, but he was becoming weary 
of this one, and he wished they would talk about 
something else. 

He must have showed his irritation in his face 
for some boy, — Henry did not know who, — an- 
nounced to the table, “Henry’s angry.” 

“No,” said Henry, striving to speak calmly 
and slowly. “Not angry, just tired of such un- 
originality.” 

This remark served as a check on the boys 
who had been doing most of the talking, and 
gradually the conversation drifted into other 
channels. The following day a portrait of His 
Majesty King George II was to be unveiled in 
the prayer hall and there was considerable ex- 
221 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


citement over the preparations. President 
Davies was to deliver an address, Governor 
Bernard of the Jersey provinces, too, was to 
speak, and the whole day's ceremonies were to 
be made the occasion of elaborate manifesta- 
tions of loyalty to the British Crown. As a mat- 
ter of fact, Henry’s original idea for his party 
that night had been a private celebration to pre- 
cede the festivities of the following day in con- 
nection with the unveiling. 

After dinner Henry retrieved his rope from 
Thomas’s and Samuel’s room and coiled it under 
the mattress in its accustomed place, convenient 
for use that evening. During the afternoon he 
smuggled in the food and drink he had pur- 
chased, stowed it away in the drawer of his 
desk and carefully locked the drawer. 

“You’ll get caught surely,” said Hugh just 
before supper. 

“Oh, Hugh, stop it,” cried Henry. “I’m so 
sick and tired of having people say I’ll get 
caught that I don’t know what to do.” 

“Well I’ll get caught, too,” said Hugh, “for 
you asked me to the party you know, and of 
course I’m coming.” 


222 


AT THE WINDOW 


“I don’t want you.” 

“Because you think I’m afraid of being 
caught. I know. But it takes more than that 
to keep me away from one of your parties.” 

“I don’t want any of you to come,” said 
Henry. “You all say you’re coming, but it’s 
because you want to prove that you are friends 
of mine. I don’t need any such proof, and I 
excuse you. I should feel too badly if you got 
into trouble with the faculty on my account.” 

He turned on his heel and walked away. 
There was a note of sarcasm and bitterness in 
his tone and Hugh cquld not help but notice 
it. He stood and watched Henry for a moment, 
then ran into the building and hurried up to 
Thomas’s room. There he found Thomas with 
George, John and Samuel all discussing 
Henry’s party. 

“Are you going?” demanded Hugh. 

“Of course we’re going,” replied the others 
in chorus. 

“Henry doesn’t want us,” said Hugh. “He 
just told me so. He thinks we’re going just to 
prove our friendship.” 

“Nonsense,” exclaimed Samuel. 

223 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

“But that is what he thinks.’ ’ 

“Let him think so,” said Samuel. “The fact 
remains, we’re going.” 

So it happened that at nine o’clock that eve- 
ning all these boys were gathered together in 
Henry’s room. The food was spread out on 
the table, pipes and tobacco made ready, glasses 
arranged for the cider and rum. 

“Lend a hand here, Thomas,” said Hugh. 
“We might just as well barricade this door in 
case any tutor comes snooping around to find 
out what is taking place in here.” 

They wheeled the bed over in front of the 
door, hung a blanket over the cracks, turned the 
key and tied the door knob to the leg of the 
table. These were the precautions usually taken 
at such times, for the tutors did not hesitate to 
force a door open if the students failed to re- 
spond to their summons as quickly as they con- 
sidered proper. 

“Baldridge won’t be around anyway,” 
chuckled George. “Of course I’m awfully 
sorry he’s sick, but at least it means that he 
won’t bother us.” 

“Don’t be so certain,” said Hugh. “Old 
Baldridge would get out of a bed of sickness to 
224 


AT THE WINDOW 

make trouble for a student. You know he 
would. ’ ’ 

‘‘But he won’t be around to-night,” George 
insisted. “ He ’ll figure that no one will try 
anything so soon after last night. For that rea- 
son I think we are fairly safe.” 

‘ ‘ Well we can slide down the rope if any one 
does come,” said John. “The door ought to 
hold long enough for us to escape.” 

“You don’t want to escape, John,” laughed 
Henry. “You and I belong in this room.” 

“John was thinking of us,” said Samuel. 
“He’s always extremely thoughtful of others.” 

“Exactly,” said John with a laugh. “Henry, 
if you don’t mind I’ll light one of those pipes.” 

“Help yourself,” said Henry. “Every one 
else do the same.” 

“WTiat time are the other guests to arrive?” 
asked Hugh. 

“Any minute now.” 

“How will you know when they get here?” 

“The rope is out the window,” said Henry. 
“When one of them arrives he will give it a 
tug, and I’ll open the window wide enough for 
him to climb in. He’ll then come up the rope 
and that is all there is to it.” 

225 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

Henry had scarcely finished speaking when 
there came a tng at the rope. He stepped to 
the window, raised the sash to the top and 
peered out. Standing close to the side of the 
building below he was able to distinguish the 
figure of a man. 

4 4 All right/ ’ he said in a low voice. 4 4 Come 
on up.” 

4 4 It’s probably Jason Work,” he added, 
turning to the group in the room. 4 4 He has a 
reputation for promptness, and when there is 
food and drink involved he is usually ahead of 
time.” 

The rope swayed back and forth as the 
climber grasped each succeeding knot and 
pulled himself up. 

4 4 My, he’s slow,” said Thomas. 4 4 I’ll war- 
rant it didn’t take me half so long to climb that 
rope last night.” 

4 4 Jason is not kicking out window panes on 
the way up though, ’ ’ said Hugh with a sly wink 
at his companions. 4 4 It’s better to be slow if 
that means the building is not going to be dam- 
aged.” 

4 4 You have me there,” said Thomas with a 
laugh. 4 4 Here he is anyway.” 

226 


AT THE WINDOW 


A hand gripped the window sill, then the top 
of a man’s cap appeared and a moment later it 
was followed by a face. 

Not the face the boys had expected to see, 
however. 

As they recognized who it was that was look- 
ing at them over the window sill their jaws 
dropped in astonishment, they started back and 
stood staring helplessly. Not a word was 
spoken. Six boys stood open-mouthed, star- 
ing at what seemed to them must be an appari- 
tion. Then a leer spread across the face at the 
window and the eyes shone evilly. 

“Ha, ha,” said the well-known voice of 
Simeon Baldridge. 


227 


CHAPTER XIX 


AN UNUSUAL CONVERSATION 

No one moved. No one spoke. Every one of 
the boys seemed frozen to the floor and his 
tongue to have been smitten with paralysis.; 
They stood and stared stupidly at the leering 
face at the window, a face on which unholy glee 
was mingled with the look of revenge. The oily 
black hair, the eyes too close together, the thin 
and slightly hooked nose, the mouth covered by 
thin lips which drooped downward at the cor- 
ners, — all seemed to unite in depicting a spirit 
of vindictive pleasure. The eyes were fixed on 
Henry, then they fastened themselves on each 
one of the group in turn, returning again to 
Henry and remaining there. 

“Ha, ha,” he said again, and his lips curled 
and showed a faint line of teeth. 

None of the boys spoke. 

Once again the steward swept the group with 
his glance. Then he fixed his look on Henry as 
before. 


228 


AN UNUSUAL CONVERSATION 

“I’ve caught you this time, Henry Stirling,” 
he snarled. 

Henry did not stir. He made no offer to 
speak and the expression of his face did not 
change. The only visible sign he gave that he 
was aware of the situation at all was that his 
face was pale, and his hands trembled. 

“You leave college to-morrow,” snapped Mr. 
Baldridge. 

Then he turned his head and looked down, 
evidently preparing to descend. It was at that 
moment that Henry regained control of his 
muscles and his mental processes. He pointed 
a finger at the steward. 

“Stop!” he ordered sharply. 

Mr. Baldridge looked at him in surprise. So 
did the boys who were gathered there for the 
party. Henry’s jaw was set squarely and there 
was a hard glint in his eyes. It was easy to see 
he was deadly serious and meant business. 

“Perhaps you didn’t hear me,” said Mr. 
Baldridge, with infinite sarcasm. “I said that 
you will leave college to-morrow. This time it 
will not be any matter of two weeks, but for 
good and all.” 

Again he made as if to descend. 

229 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

6 1 Stop, I said,” Henry repeated. There was 
something in the tone of his voice that startled 
the steward and he stared at Henry in aston- 
ishment. 

4 ‘To whom are you speaking?” he demanded. 

“To you,” said Henry. “Don’t you try to 
climb down Jhat rope.” 

Mr. Baldridge became so angry at this that 
he almost lost his grip and fell down. He 
spluttered with rage, unable to formulate words 
for a moment. 

“You insolent puppy,” he cried finally. 
i 1 How dare you ? How dare you speak to me in 
such a manner?” 

“Listen, you Baldridge,” said Henry calmly. 
“You’ve been trying to get me in trouble ever 
since I came to the College of New Jersey, and 
now you think you’ve caught me at last, do 
you ? ’ ’ 

“I know it,” said the steward. “You will 
leave college to-morrow. ’ ’ 

His tone was not quite so positive as it had 
been, however, for there was something in 
Henry’s manner that plainly worried him. 

“I will not leave college to-morrow,” said 
Henry. 


230 


AN UNUSUAL CONVERSATION 


“I say you will,” exclaimed Mr. Baldridge 
hotly. 

The five boys who witnessed this altercation 
were at a loss to understand what was trans- 
piring. The incongruity of the thing did not 
appeal to them as it might have done were the 
situation less serious, — one of the college au- 
thorities hanging over the window sill at half 
past nine at night, his feet and legs dangling 
outside, while he was openly defied by a student. 
Every one of them had an idea that Henry had 
suddenly gone mad, for how else could his con- 
duct be explained! Unless, of course, he had 
made up his mind that he was to be expelled 
no matter what happened, and so he might as 
well have the satisfaction of telling his arch 
enemy in what low esteem he held him. 

“I will not leave college to-morrow,” Henry 
repeated, “nor at any other time because of 
anything you may do or say.” 

“That may be your opinion,” said Mr. Bald- 
ridge, “but the fact remains as I have stated 
it. There is no need of our discussing it further. 
Gentlemen,” — he swept the other occupants of 
the room with his glance, — “I bid you good 
night.” 


231 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 

“ Just a minute, Simeon/ ’ exclaimed Henry. 

His calling the steward by his Christian name 
gave his friends a distinct shock and they were 
puzzled to detect that his voice now contained 
a note of amusement. 

Mr. Baldridge stopped short and turned 
again to Henry, purple with rage. Henry had 
taken his pocket knife from his jacket and 
opened the largest blade. He whetted it idly on 
his thumb. 

“Simeon,” he said, “if you make another 
move to leave your graceful position there on 
the window sill, I’ll cut the rope.” 

He enunciated the last four words slowly and 
distinctly, and as he heard them Mr. Baldridge 
started perceptibly. The expression of his face 
changed from one of anger to one of alarm. 

“What do you mean?” he demanded. 

“Exactly what I say,” said Henry. “I want 
to have a little talk with you and I don’t want 
you to leave until I’ve finished. You can see 
that I have a knife in my hand and I shall not 
hesitate to use it if the need arises.” 

“This is outrageous,” spluttered the steward. 

“Lots of things are outrageous,” smiled 
Henry. “That’s life.” 

232 


AN UNUSUAL CONVERSATION 


“The kind of food yon have been giving ns is 
outrageous, for instance/ ’ exclaimed George, 
unable to keep out of the conversation any 
longer. He had suddenly realized that Henry 
held the whip hand, that Mr. Baldridge could 
be made to promise anything demanded of him, 
and he could not resist joining in the fun, for 
fun it now was. 

“Yes, the kind of food you have been giving 
us is outrageous, ’ ’ Henry agreed. “First, we 
want to settle this other matter though. ’ ’ 

Mr. Baldridge smiled a sickly smile. 

“Do you think I’ll leave college to-morrow ?” 
asked Henry. 

Mr. Baldridge said nothing. 

“Because if you do I’ll cut the rope immedi- 
ately,” Henry continued. “In other words, it’s 
a case of my stopping or your dropping.” 

He seated himself on the floor cross legged 
and took hold of the rope with his left hand. 
The knife was in his other hand and he lightly 
sawed the blade back and forth across the rope. 
Mr. Baldridge clutched the window sill more 
tightly, and his eyes bulged. He hitched him- 
self upward and made as if to climb into the 
room, but George was too quick for him. He 
233 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


sprang to the window and pulled the sash down 
until it was within a foot of the sill and just 
enough space was left for the luckless steward’s 
head to show through. 

‘ 4 That’s the way, George,” said Henry 
briefly. 

“ You ’ll suffer for this,” muttered Mr. Bald- 
ridge. 

“Take back those words or I cut the rope,” 
said Henry sharply. He held the knife against 
the rope and looked at the pale-faced man in 
the window. 

“Take them back?” he repeated. 

The steward made no reply. 

“One, two, — ” Henry began to count. 

“I take them back,” cried Mr. Baldridge in 
alarm. 

“Sure?” 

“Yes.” 

“Say ‘yes, sir,’ ” said Henry. 

“Yes, sir,” said Mr. Baldridge meekly. 

Hugh snickered audibly at this, and if a 
glance could kill, the one Mr. Baldridge shot at 
him would certainly have annihilated him. 

“Order in the class-room,” cried George, 
pointing his finger at Hugh. “Any further out- 
234 


AN UNUSUAL CONVERSATION 


breaks of this nature will be severely dealt 
with.” 

“ Henry, this is the best party I ever at- 
tended,” said Samuel. “I don’t know how I 
can ever thank you for this wonderful evening.” 

“I am happy to hear that you are enjoying 
yourself,” said Henry. “ Still we must not 
slight our uninvited guest. He would never for- 
give us.” 

He turned to the window again. 

“Excuse me, Simeon,” he said. “I didn’t 
mean to neglect you.” 

Mr. Baldridge said nothing, but the expres- 
sion on his face spoke volumes. 

“You’re not going to report this little gather- 
ing, are you?” Henry asked. 

The steward said nothing. 

“Are you?” Henry repeated, waving his 
knife back and forth. 

“No,” said Mr. Baldridge after a moment’s 
hesitation. 

“Sir,” said Henry. 

“No, sir,” said Mr. Baldridge. 

“That’s a promise?” 

“Yes.” 

“Sir,” said Henry. 

235 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

“Yes, sir,” said Mr. Baldridge. 

“Pm glad that’s settled,” said Henry with 
a sigh. “Now I’d like to ask you one or two 
questions before you leave. That is if you’re 
not in a hurry.” 

“He looks very comfortable and happy where 
he is,” said Hugh. 

“Order in the class-room,” cried George* 
“No talking there.” 

“Are you in a hurry?” asked Henry. 

Mr. Baldridge hesitated. 

“No,” he said. 

“Sir,” said Henry. 

“No, sir,” said Mr. Baldridge. 

“Do you eat the same food you serve us?” 
asked Henry. 

“I do.” 

“Do you think it’s fit to eat?” 

“I eat it.” 

“Answer my question,” said Henry. “The 
fact that you eat it proves little.” 

“I think it’s fit to eat,” said the steward. 

“What curious ideas some people have,” 
murmured Hugh. 

“Order there,” George exclaimed. “I said, 
no talking.” 


236 


AN UNUSUAL CONVERSATION 


“Pm glad to get the steward’s opinion of the 
food,” said Henry. 4 ‘ I’ve been in doubt about 
it personally.” 

This remark drew a laugh from everybody 
present except Mr. Baldridge. From his ex- 
pression it would not seem as if he saw any- 
thing funny about it at all. 

“ And now just one other thing before we say 
‘good night,’ ” said Henry. “I wish you would 
stop hounding me and spying on me. Of course 
I am devoted to you and would like to have you 
around all the time, but I don’t think it’s fair 
to the other students. They pay four pounds 
a year tuition just the same as I do, and it seems 
to me they are equally entitled to the pleasure 
of your company.” 

“Quite right, Henry,” said Samuel. 

“Order,” cried George. “Mr. Stirling 
is in charge of this lecture, and it must 
be understood there are to be no inter- 
ruptions. ’ ’ 

“Yes, sir,” said Samuel. 

His use of the word “sir” drew a laugh from 
everybody present except the steward. 

“I’m getting tired,” he complained. 

“We’re tired of your food,” said Henry. 

237 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

“I shall try to improve it,” said Mr. Bald- 
ridge. 

John rose from the chair he was occupying. 
“Mr. Stirling,” he said, “at the risk of causing 
an interruption it seems to me that that remark 
of the honorable steward calls for three cheers.” 

“I quite agree,” said Henry. “But the hour 
is late and we might disturb the slumbers of the 
faculty.” 

“True,” said John solemnly. “I withdraw 
my suggestion.” He sat down again. 

“Our guest is tired,” said Henry. “He 
wants to retire so as to be up bright and early 
in the morning, clear-headed and able to give 
his best attention to the improvement of the 
students’ fare. We had better bid him good 
night I think.” 

At that moment there was a violent tug at the 
rope and the unfortunate steward nearly lost 
his grip. He clutched madly at the window sill, 
and barely saved himself from falling. Henry 
sprang to the window, threw open the sash and 
peered out. 

“That you, Jason?” he inquired cautiously. 

“Yes,” said a voice from below. “I want 
to come up.” 


238 


AN UNUSUAL CONVERSATION 


“Somebody is coming down first,” said 
Henry. “ Wait a moment. ’ ’ 

“You’d better go,” he announced to Mr. Bald- 
ridge. “It has been a great pleasure to us to 
have you here and I hope you’ll never come 
again. You won’t forget your promise, will 
you?” 

“No,” said Mr. Baldridge. 

“Sir,” said Henry. 

“No, sir,” said Mr. Baldridge, and began to 
descend the rope. 


239 


CHAPTER XX 


DOWN PRETTY BROOK 

When Mr. Baldridge reached the ground he 
scurried away as fast as he could; he paid no 
attention to the two soldiers who were standing 
at the end of the rope and made no offer to 
return their greeting. Henry followed the 
steward down the rope and explained to his two 
invited guests what had taken place. They 
were highly amused at the recital, but refused, 
under the circumstances, to consider partaking 
of the food and drink Henry had made ready 
in his room. 

“ ’Tis too risky,’ ’ said Roger. “We would 
only get you in trouble.” 

Henry protested, but to no avail. They in- 
sisted that it would not be fair for them to do 
anything which would jeopardize Henry’s 
standing in the. college, that they would rather 
know he was in Prince Town than to accept his 
hospitality, and possibly be responsible for his 
having to leave. Henry soon realized that there 
240 


DOWN PRETTY BROOK 


was no use arguing with, them about it, so he 
bade them good night, thanked them for this 
proof of their friendship and started to climb 
the rope to his room. 

Long practice had made him expert and a 
moment later he was climbing over the window 
sill of the second floor room where he lived with 
J ohn Ayres. To his surprise the room was dark 
and quiet. 

“John,” he called softly. 

“Yes!” came a voice from the bed. 

“Are you in bed! Where are the others!” 

“I say, yes, to your first question. To the 
second, they’ve all returned to their rooms.” 

“But why!” demanded Henry irritably. 

“Because we all decided we had done enough 
for one evening,” said John, placidly. “There 
is no use in running unnecessary risks.” 

“What are the risks! Baldridge won’t be 
around again to-night. ’ ’ 

“Probably you’re right about that,” John ad- 
mitted, “but I should hesitate to wager that he 
won’t send some one else around.” 

“Rabbit-hearted, that’s what you are,” de- 
clared Henry, pulling in the rope and coiling it 
on his arm as he did so. Secretly, if the truth 
241 


A PKINCETON BOY UNDEB THE KING 

were known, he was delighted that the necessity 
for his playing host had passed. He had done 
his part, stood by his invitations and he felt that 
his duty had been performed. Therefore, he 
was glad that the incident was closed. At least 
he hoped it was closed. As he stood in the dark 
room and removed his clothes he went over in 
his mind the events of the evening. 

“You know, John,” he said, “I feel rather 
guilty about the way I acted towards old Bald- 
ridge.” 

“Why?” asked John in surprise. 

“I think I took advantage of him, and that’s 
always unfair.” 

“You mean in making him promise not to 
tell?” 

“No indeed,” exclaimed Henry, “not in that. 
He certainly would have had me expelled if I 
hadn’t threatened him, and I have no twinges 
of conscience on having got a promise out of 
him to keep his mouth shut.” 

“What are you feeling guilty about then?” 

“Oh, for making him address me as ‘sir’ and 
that kind of thing. I can’t help but feel that I 
took a mean advantage of him, that I didn’t 
play the game quite fairly. Wasn’t it like hav- 
242 


DOWN PRETTY BROOK 

in g some one down and then jumping on him 
when he couldn’t defend himself ?” 

“ Henry,” said John vehemently, “ you ’re so 
upright you lean backwards. I never saw such 
a fellow for always worrying whether he had 
been fair or not, or whether he had done the 
sportsmanlike thing. Come to bed, you make 
me sick.” 

“No I don’t either,” laughed Henry. 

“I shan’t argue with you about that now,” 
said John. “I’m too sleepy.” 

Henry saw Mr. Baldridge several times the 
following day. The steward spoke pleasantly 
to him on each occasion, more pleasantly in fact 
than he had ever done before. Henry did not 
place overmuch faith in this circumstance, how- 
ever, for he did not feel at all certain that this 
changed attitude was either sincere or perma- 
nent. Of course it was possible that Mr. Bald- 
ridge had more respect for him than formerly 
because of the way he had asserted himself and 
spoken what he thought. But Henry did not 
feel at all confident of this, and resolved to be 
on his guard, and to do nothing which might 
lay him open to suspicion. 

243 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 

He was called upon to recite in Mr. Halsey’s 
class that morning and failed miserably. A re- 
view of Longinus was being held and Henry 
had done no work in preparation because his 
time had been otherwise occupied the previous 
evening. Moreover neither Latin or Greek had 
ever been studies in which he was an adept, and 
the passage Mr. Halsey asked him to translate; 
and explain was an exceptionally difficult one., 
This was not an excuse, however, and Henry 
knew that Mr. Halsey would not make any al- 
lowance for him because of that fact. 

‘ 4 He ’ll think I am a shirker and a liar,” said 
Henry to Thomas, as they strolled along that 
part of the Kings Highway which ran through 
the village of Prince Town. They had just fin- 
ished their noonday meal and were taking ad- 
vantage of the two hours’ recess to get some 
fresh air and a little exercise. 

“You’re neither,” said Thomas. 

“I’m not so sure about that,” rejoined 
Henry. “I feel as if I had broken faith with 
him. Undoubtedly he knows that there was 
something going on in our room last evening, 
and for that very reason he called on me for that 
difficult translation this morning.” 

244 


DOWN PRETTY BROOK 

“To make you realize that he knew all about 
it!” 

“I think so.” 

“Kind of a mean trick, I think.” 

“I don’t think so at all,” said Henry. “I 
made certain statements to him which he con- 
sidered himself entitled to believe. Before the 
day was over I did things the opposite of what 
I had led him to believe I would do. ’ 9 

“We urged you not to have your party last 
night, you know,” said Thomas. 

“I know it. But let’s not argue about that. 
I did what I felt I had to do, and I’d do it 
again. Where I made my mistake was in not 
going to Mr. Halsey and explaining the circum- 
stances to him beforehand.” 

“That would have taken courage,” said 
Thomas. 

“Of course. But if I had done it I wouldn’t 
feel like a hypocrite and a worm to-day. What’s 
more, Mr. Halsey wouldn’t consider me a hypo- 
crite and a worm now. I tell you, Thomas, it’s 
hard to tell the truth sometimes, but I really 
believe it ’s easier than not telling it. The truth 
may get you into trouble once in a while, but 
a lie always does.” 


245 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


Thomas thought about this for a time. “I 
guess you’re right,” he said, finally. 

“I know I’m right,” said Henry. 

Then and there he made a resolve, and at his 
earliest opportunity he took steps to carry it 
out. As soon as he and Thomas returned to 
Nassau Hall he went to Mr. Halsey’s room and 
knocked at the door. A cheery voice bade him 
enter, and he found the tutor seated in front 
of the open fireplace reading. It was late Oc- 
tober and the chill of autumn was in the air, 
so that the log blaze was extremely welcome. 

As Mr. Halsey glanced up at his caller and 
recognized Henry he gave a slight start of sur- 
prise. But he smiled a cordial welcome and rose 
to his feet. 

4 ‘Why, Henry,” he exclaimed, “I’m delighted 
to see you.” 

“Thank you, sir,” said Henry nervously. 

“Won’t you sit down?” 

“No thank you,” said Henry. “I just came 
to ask if you would be free this afternoon and 
would care to take a walk in the country with 
me.” 

Mr. Halsey stood with his back to the fire, 
leaning against the mantelpiece. He looked at 
246 


DOWN PRETTY BROOK 


Henry curiously for a moment, and then his 
face broke into a cordial smile. 

“I should like nothing better,” he exclaimed 
heartily. “Will you stop here at my room at 
three o’clock f” 

“Thank you, sir,” said Henry. 

They conversed but little when they started 
off that afternoon. It was a glorious, golden 
October day, the sunlight warm and yellow, the 
air invigorating, the kind of day that gives one 
a feeling of peace with all mankind. Every one 
they met seemed to be happy. The long shady 
street was mottled with sunlight, shifting pat- 
terns of black and yellow, dotted with the 
brown, red and saffron autumn leaves. 

At the head of the street they struck off to 
the right, across the farm of Mr. Richard Stock- 
ton, through his orchard and down the hillside 
in the direction of Cedar Grove. The hills 
across the little valley were veiled in a purple 
mist, softening the rich autumn foliage of the 
trees. The countryside was a symphony of 
brown, splashed here and there with the bright 
red leaves of the sumach and scarlet sage. 
Peace was everywhere. A turkey buzzard 
floated on wide wings against the sapphire sky, 
247 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

rabbits bounced from their path, a woodcock 
flung himself into the air and hurtled off as they 
crossed a swampy patch of ground in the 
hollows. 

Soon they came to Pretty Brook and followed 
its course downstream towards the spot where 
it joined its happy, chuckling waters with those 
of Stony Brook. Below a little rapids they 
found a large flat rock and there they seated 
themselves, sheltered by a high bank. A king- 
fisher emerged from his cavern home above 
their heads and winged his jerky flight up- 
stream in search of food, a splotch of blue green 
against the brown trees. 

Mr. Halsey removed his hat and passed his 
hand over his forehead. 

4 ‘Henry,’ ’ he said, “Pm glad to be alive.’ ’ 

“And I too,” said Henry. “Could anything 
be more beautiful than the autumns we have at 
Prince Town?” 

“Nothing, with the possible exception of the 
springs,” said Mr. Halsey with a laugh. 

“Oh, I love it all,” said Henry enthusi- 
astically. “It’s a wonderful place.” 

They lapsed into silence, paying heed only to 
the sights and sounds of Nature; the soft 
248 


DOWN PRETTY BROOK 


whispering of the wind in the trees, the gurgle 
of the water at their feet, the play of the sun- 
light through the leaves, the dancing patterns 
on the surface of the brook, the cawing of a crow 
flying clumsily along overhead, — the combina- 
tion produced an effect of peace and quiet which 
it seemed almost a sacrilege to disturb. 

But Henry was there for a purpose. With 
an effort he roused himself froih his reverie, sat 
up straight and looked at Mr. Halsey. 

“Mr. Halsey,” he said earnestly, “you think 
I’m a pretty despicable sort of a person, don’t 
you?” 

The tutor smiled dryly. “Why, scarcely as 
bad as that, Henry,” he said. 

“But you think I lied to you.” 

“I have been afraid you did not tell me the 
exact truth, I’ll admit.” 

“Mr. Halsey,” exclaimed Henry, “when you 
came to my room yesterday and we had that 
talk I had completely forgotten that I had in- 
vited some people to come to my room last 
evening. I remembered it only after you had 
gone.” 

“Why didn’t you come and tell me about it 
when you did remember?” Mr. Halsey was 
249 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KINO 

stretched out at full length on the big rock, re- 
clining on his left side, his head resting on his 
hand. He kept his eyes fixed on Henry’s face. 

“ That’s what I should have done,” said 
Henry. “Why I didn’t do it I don’t know. I 
was afraid, I guess.” 

“Afraid of me?” Mr. Halsey looked sur- 
prised. 

“That’s it, I guess.” 

“I’m sorry to hear it,” said the tutor soberly. 
“I have always felt that a teacher whose stu- 
dents are afraid of him is not a good teacher.” 

“It wasn’t so much a question of you being 
a teacher that made me afraid,” said Henry. 
“I don’t know exactly what it was. I was go- 
ing to break the rules of the college by having 
people in my room after hours ; I had given you 
to understand that I was not going to break any 
more rules, and yet I felt as if under the cir- 
cumstances I had to stand by my invitations. 
Two opposite things you see, and somehow my 
courage forsook me when it came to making a 
clean breast of the whole thing.” 

“You were afraid I wouldn’t understand!” 

Henry hesitated a moment before replying. 
“Perhaps that was it,” he said finally. 

250 


DOWN PRETTY BROOK 


“ Henry,’ ’ said Mr. Halsey kindly, “ don’t 
ever let such a thing happen again. One thing 
I have always tried to do is to see the other 
fellow’s point of view. As a teacher I believe 
that is part of my task. And now that you have 
explained the circumstances to me I realize the 
kind of a problem you had to solve last evening. 
When I heard people going up that rope to your 
room I confess I was angry. I believed you had 
deliberately deceived me. In fact, I actually 
started to go to your room, and got as far as 
the foot of the stairs before I changed my mind. 
I stopped because I felt there must be some ex- 
planation for your behavior, and I decided to 
wait until to-day to learn if one was forthcom- 
ing. It made me extremely happy to see you 
come into my room this noon and ask me to 
walk with you because I knew you were going 
to explain just how it all happened, and that 
once again we could be friends and trust each 
other/ ’ 

“Do you trust me?” asked Henry dubiously. 

“Why of course I do,” exclaimed Mr. Halsey. 
“Why shouldn’t IV 9 

“I failed you once.” 

“You made a mistake. All men who accom- 
251 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

plish things in this world do that. President 
Burr made the mistake of working too hard.” 
He laughed. 

“I doubt if I do that,” said Henry. “Pm 
going to do more work during the remainder of 
my course though than Pve ever done before. 
I promise you that.” 

“Don’t promise me anything,” said Mr. 
Halsey. “I’ve told you before that I don’t be- 
lieve in promises. I don’t believe much in rules 
either. ’ ’ 

“That sounds queer coming from a member 
of a college faculty,” said Henry laughingly. 
“Why not?” 

“Did you ever stop to think of this?” said 
Mr. Halsey. “If there is but one rule there is 
only one rule to break. If you have a hundred 
rules the chances are just one hundred 
times greater for transgressing some one of 
them. ’ ’ 

“That’s true enough,” said Henry, “and we 
have so many rules around here now that no 
matter how good one’s intentions are it is al- 
most impossible to keep from breaking some 
rule or regulation.” 

“Exactly so,” said Mr. Halsey. “My idea 

252 


DOWN PRETTY BROOK 


is to leave it to the boy himself as to how he 
shall conduct himself. I believe most boys are 
honorable, and if they are trusted like men 
they’ll conduct themselves like men. Suspect 
them all the time and pretty soon they’ll give 
you reason to suspect them.” 

“It’s a game,” said Henry. “Why, in my 
own case I know that simply because there are 
rules I like to see if I can break them and not 
be caught. I match my wits against the 
faculty’s.” 

“And beat them usually, I dare say.” 

“It’s not particularly difficult,” laughed 
Henry. 

‘ 4 It never is, ’ ’ said Mr. Halsey. ‘ ‘ Any smart 
boy can fool most men most of the time. It’s 
the boy’s game, and a man can scarcely hope to 
excel at it. He who tries is foolish.” 

Henry said nothing. He was thinking of Mr. 
Baldridge’s attempt to outwit him, and as the 
picture of the luckless steward hanging to the 
rope and the window sill came into his mind he 
could not help but smile. Mr. Halsey saw the 
smile. 

“Mr. Baldridge for instance,” he said. 

“It’s mean of me to laugh at him,” said 

253 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

Henry. “It was so amusing to see him humble 
for once in his life though. ’ ’ 

“Has he really persecuted you, do you 
think »” 

“I feel sure of it.” 

“Well,” said Mr. Halsey, “you have the 
upper hand now. I hope you won’t persecute 
him.” 

“I have gone out of my way to be nice to him 
to-day, ’ ’ said Henry. 1 1 Incidentally he has been 
nicer to me than I’ve ever seen him before.” 

“That’s the way of it sometimes,” said Mr. 
Halsey. “It seems as if it were necessary to 
be hard on some people to make them like you.” 

“My main concern is the food,” said Henry. 
“I am in hopes that it will improve after last 
night’s performance.” 

“And I too,” said Mr. Halsey. “I eat the 
same fare as you, you know.” 

“I hope I have done you a service then,” said 
Henry, laughingly. 

“I hope so too,” said Mr. Halsey. “Why I 
sit there in the hall and look up at the portrait 
of King George and then opposite at the por- 
trait of our late governor, Mr. Belcher, and I 
wonder how those two portly and well-fed 
254 


DOWN PRETTY BROOK 

gentlemen would have appeared if they were 
obliged to subsist on the food furnished the stu- 
dents at the College of New Jersey by Mr. 
Simeon Baldridge.” 

1 ‘ They would have a lean and hungry look like 
Cassius in Mr. Shakespeare’s play perhaps,” 
laughed Henry. 

“No doubt,” said Mr. Halsey. “By the way, 
do you enjoy his plays!” 

“Immensely. He is as great a poet as play- 
wright, too, I believe.” 

“Undoubtedly. As a poet I like John Milton 
perhaps even better than Shakespeare. For 
prose give me Joseph Addison. These three are 
the best of all the moderns to my mind. You 
should read everything of theirs, Henry.” 

“I know it. I’ve wasted my time I’m afraid, 
but I plan to frequent the library from now on 
and become better acquainted with not only 
these gentlemen but many others.” 

“A fine idea. Our library is not large, but it 
is well selected and now contains almost twelve 
hundred volumes. The president is planning 
to have a catalogue of the volumes printed.” 

“So I hear. It should be extremely useful 
and valuable I should say.” 

255 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

“No doubt of it. I am to have charge of the 
work, which means several trips to Woodbridge 
to see the printer I suppose/ ’ 

“Woodbridge is not far from my home.” 

“Perth Amboy! Yes, I knew you lived there, 
and it is a lovely spot, too. People say that 
New York will be the most important port along 
this section of the coast, but personally I feel 
that Perth Amboy may win out in the race for 
honors. I suppose you will go into business, 
there when you graduate.” 

“That is my father’s wish,” said Henry. 

“Carry it out then if possible,” said Mr. 
Halsey. “Incidentally you are a lucky boy to 
have a father with a business waiting to take 
you in.” 

“I guess I am,” said Henry soberly, “though 
I must confess I have never thought a great deal 
about it. I haven’t thought a great deal about 
much of anything, to tell the truth.” 

“Thinking won’t hurt you any,” said Mr. 
Halsey with a smile. “Try it.” 

“I shall,” said Henry. 


256 


CHAPTER XXI 


A SUSPECT 

Henry Stirling did as lie had said he would. 
He commenced to think. Previous to his talk 
with Mr. Halsey he had taken things more or 
less for granted, accepted whatever came along 
as a matter of course. Now he began to ask him- 
self questions when something happened he did 
not understand. Why is such and such a thing 
as it is? What makes it so? He sought the 
reason and he sought diligently. As is usually 
the case with diligent searchers, he found what 
he was looking for, and never before had he 
known such real satisfaction as he now obtained 
from the knowledge of work thoroughly done. 

He prepared his lessons carefully and con- 
scientiously, with the result that he did not fail 
in his recitations any more. No longer did he 
go into a class and sit nervously through it, 
painfully wondering if he was to be called upon 
to recite, and be obliged to give a public exhibi- 
tion of his unpreparedness. Now he welcomed 
257 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

a call to recite, and the subjects he previously 
had regarded as boresome and uninteresting he 
found to be the exact reverse, simply because 
he knew something about them. 

‘ 4 Studies are like people,” said Mr. Halsey 
when he and Henry were discussing this point 
one day. ‘ 4 Our first impression of them is liable 
to be unfavorable, but the better acquainted 
with them we become the better we like them, 
and the more we realize how many attractive 
and interesting qualities they have.” 

Henry did not spend all his time in study. 
He did take life more seriously than before, 
however, and he did not spend hours plotting 
ways and means to break the college rules as he 
was wont to do formerly. 

Shortly after his talk with Mr. Halsey an 
organ was presented to the college. On it were 
played the hymns for morning and evening 
prayers each day and for the Sunday services., 
George Dodd conceived the bright idea of stuff- 
ing paper in about one-third of the pipes so that 
when the organist tried to play his efforts would 
be rewarded with results disconcerting to him 
and highly amusing to the students. He was 
258 


A SUSPECT 


surprised and rather hurt when Henry declined 
his invitation to participate in this enterprise. 

4 4 You ’re getting to be hopeless,’ ’ he said. 

4 4 On the contrary,” said Henry, 4 4 for the 
first time since I have been a student at Nassau 
'Hall I am beginning to have hopes of my- 
self.” 

4 4 You’ve lost all your spirit,” countered 
George. 

4 4 No,” said Henry, 44 I merely have it under 
control and am striving to direct it into the 
proper channels.” 

George looked at him quizzically for a mo- 
ment without speaking. 

4 4 Do I look differently,” inquired Henry with 
a laugh. 

44 I was trying to see,” said George. 

44 I don’t think I’ve gone insane,” said 
Henry. 

4 4 Perhaps I am crazy myself,” said George. 
44 I was just wondering what you were going to 
do from now till graduation. Nothing but 
study? Aren’t you planning to have any more 
fun?” 

<4 I am planning to have more than ever,” said 
Henry. 4 4 Moreover, I do not intend to do noth- 
259 


A PRINCETON ROY UNDER THE KING 

in g but study, but I’m going to make study my 
first concern. When that is done I’ll be ready 
for almost anything.” 

4 ‘But you won’t help me fix the organ?” 

• “No, George. I’m going to behave, — for a 
while anyway.” 

“I suppose you won’t even laugh when I have 
stuffed paper in the pipes and Mr. Hopkins 
tries to play.” 

“I’ll laugh if the result is amusing.” 

“Henry, you are becoming spiritless,” said 
George with a sigh. “All I can say is I’m 
thankful I knew you when you were a man, be- 
fore you took the vow of eternal good conduct. 
You used to be a nice young fellow, but now, — ” 
George held up his hands in despair. 

4 4 Oh get out of here, ’ ’ laughed Henry. 4 4 You 
pose as a roue and a loafer and you pretend you 
do no work, but you don’t fool me. You study 
hard and you know it. Perhaps you don’t ad- 
mit it, but it’s so just the same.” 

“I don’t care to argue with you,” said 
George, rising from his chair and going to the 
window. 4 4 From now on you are beneath my 
notice.” 

4 4 That’s splendid,” cried Henry with a laugh. 

260 


A SUSPECT 

“Now you’ll let me alone and I shall be able to 
get some work done.” 

George turned and fixed Henry with his 
glance. 

“Worm,” be said, and stalked out of the 
room. 

Henry chuckled as the door closed behind his 
friend and he settled himself comfortably by the 
window with a copy of “A Midsummer Night’s 
Dream,” which he had procured from the li- 
brary. For a long time he read, forgetting 
everything else, losing himself completely in 
Bottom’s antics and the spell of William 
Shakespeare’s musical lines. After a time he 
looked up from his book and glancing out of 
the window spied George and Thomas Spencer 
under a tree on the back campus, deep in con- 
versation. 

“Aha,” he thought, “no doubt the organ plot 
is being hatched,” and for a moment he wished 
he had allowed himself to be included with the 
conspirators. He sat with the book on his lap, 
staring straight ahead, thinking. He went over 
in his mind all that he had done since he had 
come to Nassau Hall, and he tried to decide 
whether his time had been profitably spent or 
261 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

wasted. He had made some wonderful friends 
and that is worth while always. John Ayres 
was closest of all of them and Henry dreaded 
the idea of their separating at graduation and 
not seeing each other again. Perth Amboy and 
Philadelphia were sixty miles apart, too long 
and too difficult a journey to permit of more 
than infrequent visits. He would miss his other 
friends too, Thomas, George, Samuel and Hugh, 
— all of them. But he would not have given up 
the four years passed with them for anything 
in the world. Just to have gained their affec- 
tion and friendship made his .college career 
worth while. Yet Henry had regrets. He felt 
that he had not made the most of his opportuni- 
ties for study and self-improvement. He had 
dodged work and sought pleasure and it was 
only now that his senior year was half over that 
he suddenly realized that the sweetest pleas- 
ures of life are gained as the result of work. It 
was not too late yet to put this knowledge to 
practical use. To show that he was serious he 
laid aside his copy of Shakespeare and picked 
up Cicero’s Orations and was soon deeply en- 
grossed in the smooth-flowing Latin. 

The following evening after supper the col- 
262 


A SUSPECT 


lege assembled in the hall for prayers. Presi- 
dent Davies stood on the platform, his Bible 
open at the fourteenth chapter of the Gospel of 
St. John. The good man was in fine spirits and 
he smiled benignly at the more than four score 
young faces gathered before him. The students 
liked and respected President Davies and were 
always well behaved in his presence, something 
which can not always be said of them when un- 
der the guidance or supervision of some of the 
other members of the faculty. 

Henry had been busy all the afternoon pre- 
paring an oration he was to deliver the follow- 
ing day. Once a month was oration day when 
members of the senior class were obliged to de- 
liver an oration of their own composition be- 
fore an audience composed of students, mem- 
bers of the faculty and invited guests from the 
town. Henry’s turn came on the succeeding 
day, and as President Davies stood up to an- 
nounce the opening hymn he was reciting to 
himself the oration he had written. His mind 
was far away from the service and he had for- 
gotten all about George’s scheme for stopping 
up some of the organ pipes and thereby adding 
zest to the evening’s devotional meeting. He 
263 


A PEINCETON BOY UNDEE THE KINO 

was therefore scarcely conscious at first that a 
disturbance was taking place. 

The hymn had been announced and Mr. Hop- 
kins at the keyboard had pulled out the proper 
stops, pushed others in and started to play* 
The results were remarkable, not to say star- 
tling. The first chord he struck sounded far 
differently than he had expected it to sound, 
and equally removed from the way the com- 
poser of the hymn had written it. Some of the 
pipes being stopped up with paper only a por- 
tion of the keys struck yielded forth any sound. 
And what a sound it was. Hugh Harris said 
later that he thought some one must have step- 
ped on a cat that had somehow wandered 
into the hall. At any rate a blood-shivering 
discord emerged from the instrument which 
was intended to produce music. Mr. Hopkins 
removed his fingers from the keys. A titter 
ran around the room. Then Henry suddenly 
woke up to a realization of what was happen- 
ing, he forgot his oration completely and like a 
flash his old love of pranks came back to him. 
He looked eagerly at Mr. Hopkins and Presi- 
dent Davies to see what effect the strange 
sound had had on them. 

264 


A SUSPECT 

Mr. Hopkins seemed puzzled. He gazed at 
the keyboard as if he were not quite sure 
whether to believe his ears or not. President 
Davies, the same kind of puzzled look on his 
face, wa,s gazing at Mr. Hopkins and the or- 
gan, seemingly under the impression that some 
accident had occurred and that the organist had 
inadvertently struck the wrong notes. Mr. 
Hopkins thought he would try again anyway. 
He turned sideways towards the students, gave 
them the little nod he always gave when he was 
ready to commence, and again he struck the 
keys. The same barbaric shriek issued from 
the organ as before. Mr. Hopkins was deter- 
mined to make a thorough test this time, how- 
ever, and he went hopefully on, apparently un- 
der the delusion that presently the instrument 
would get control of itself and function prop- 
erly. 

No such thing happened. Instead of one 
discord there were ten. Wails, moans and 
shrieks rent the air. Pandemonium broke 
loose. The students shouted, stamped on the 
floor and emitted sounds even more unearthly, 
if such a thing were possible, than those that 
came from the abused musical instrument. 

265 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


Henry was convulsed with laughter. He felt 
sorry for President Davies and Mr. Hopkins, 
but the outcome of the plot struck him as about 
the funniest thing he had ever witnessed, and 
he laughed, and laughed, and laughed. Presi- 
dent Davies, white-lipped and plainly furiously 
angry stood stiffly behind the desk and rapped 
loudly for order. Mr. Hopkins had risen from 
his seat and stood facing the students, his hands 
twitching and his eyes flashing. 

Henry rocked back and forth in his seat and 
laughed until he was weak. Tears streamed 
from his eyes and he ached from laughter. 
Why he should consider this prank so funny 
he could not have said, but as often happens an 
insignificant event or occurrence will tickle our 
risibilities far more than something which in 
itself may be far more humorous. The other 
students laughed too, though not as heartily 
as Henry. 

They had preferred to add to the general con- 
fusion by caterwauling, barking like dogs, whis- 
tling, anything that would add noise to the oc- 
casion. Henry had done none of this. His part 
had been entirely an involuntary one, for he 
266 


A SUSPECT 

could no more have helped laughing than 
breathing. 

When the noise began to die away he wiped 
his eyes and looked about the room. To his 
surprise most of the students were looking at 
him, President Davies was gazing directly at 
him, as was Mr. Hopkins, and from the side of 
the room he met the glance of Simeon Bald- 
ridge. 

Henry flushed crimson. “I’ve laughed so 
hard they think I’m responsible I suppose,” he 
muttered to himself. He was serious now and 
sat back in his seat, trying to compose himself 
and appear unconcerned. 

President Davies had not spoken. He stood 
quietly waiting for all the noise to subside, and 
it was only when complete order was restored 
that he spoke. 

“Mr. Stirling,” said President Davies look- 
ing straight at Henry, “you seem highly 
amused by the recent disgraceful performance.” 

The room was deathly still and Henry could 
feel all eyes fixed upon him. He did not know 
what to say. 

“Yes, sir,” he stammered finally. 

267 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


“Why were you so amused V’ 

“I don’t know, sir,” said Henry, and he spoke 
the truth. 

At this juncture Mr. Baldridge stepped for- 
ward. “Perhaps, sir,” he said addressing 
President Davies, “he was delighted because 
his experiment was so successful.” He turned 
and leered at Henry. 

At these words Henry turned pale and started 
to rise from his seat. He was being accused be- 
fore the whole colloge, accused unjustly by a 
man for whom he had no respect, and he grew 
so angry that red spots danced before his eyes. 
His first impulse was to rush at this accuser, 
seize him by the throat and make him apologize 
publicly. Then he regained control of himself 
and sank back limply into his seat. President 
Davies addressed some other remark to him 
which he did not hear, and consequently did not 
answer. His head was buzzing, a thousand 
wheels seemed to be whirring in his ears and he 
was practically oblivious to all that was going 
on about him. 

“You did not answer my question, sir,” he 
heard President Davies say sternly. 

Henry roused himself with an effort. 

268 


A SUSPECT 


“I did not hear it, sir,” he said. 

“I will talk to you at my home in half an 
hour,” said President Davies. “ Meanwhile 
you may go to your room.” 

Henry rose to his feet blindly and stumbled 
down the aisle towards the door. As he went 
out he heard faintly as from a great distance, 
President Davies announce the singing of a 
hymn to be rendered without the organ accom- 
paniment.. 


269 


CHAPTER XXII 


A TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT 

Henry entered his room and threw himself face 
downwards on the bed, his face buried in his 
hands. For a long time he did not stir. He 
could not think, for his mind was clouded as 
by some evil dream and his thoughts were dis- 
connected and confused. He felt discouraged 
and hopeless. He had been making an honest 
effort to do the right thing and now he seemed 
to be in more serious trouble than ever before. 

He got to his feet and dragged himself over 
to the window, leaned his forehead against the 
pane and pressed his hands to his throbbing 
temples. He was in a dripping perspiration 
and yet he shook as if with the ague. 

“What’s the use?” he muttered. 

He looked out into the trees in the rear of 
Nassau Hall and above them at the stars which 
were just beginning to twinkle in the darkening 
sky. And as always happened with Henry, the 
contemplation of Nature tended to restore his 
270 


A TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT 


peace of mind so that it was not long before 
his heart ceased beating so violently and his 
brow began to cool. A stern feeling of resent- 
ment against Mr. Baldridge stole into his 
breast, however, and as he thought of the mean 
insinuation of the steward he ground his teeth 
and clenched his fists until his fingers showed 
red and white. 

“The swine/ ’ 

He had just applied this appellation to Mr. 
Baldridge and was considering how peculiarly 
appropriate it was when there came a knock 
at the door. 

Henry turned his back to the window. 

“Come in,” he said. 

The door opened and Mr. Halsey entered. 
He closed the door softly behind him and stood 
for a moment without speaking, his eyes intent 
on Henry. Then he suddenly advanced towards 
him with outstretched hands. 

“Henry,” he exclaimed, “I can’t tell you how 
sorry I am that you have been placed in this po- 
sition.” 

“You think I’m not guilty?” 

“Pm sure of it,” said Mr. Halsey. 

For the first time since he had been a little 
271 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

boy Henry wanted to cry. For a moment he 
could say nothing, for something rose up in 
his throat and choked him. He swallowed 
hard. 

4 ‘ Thank you, sir,” he mumbled finally. 

“Everything will be straightened out in no 
time,” said Mr. Halsey. “Don’t worry about 
it for a minute. Don’t blame President Davies 
too much either. He was obliged to act as he 
did.” 

“I realize that I think,” said Henry. “But 
Baldridge — . The swine.” 

Mr. Halsey laughed. “Forget about him,” 
he advised. 

‘ 4 1 wish I could, ’ ’ cried Henry angrily. “It’s 
hard to forget a thing like that though. When 
you knocked at my door I was just wondering 
if it paid to be decent and do the right thing. 
I was invited to help in stopping up the organ 
pipes and called spineless for my refusal. Now 
I am blamed for it anyway.” 

“Unfair, I’ll admit,” said Mr. Halsey so- 
berly. “But don’t get cynical. You are right 
in this matter and that fact will be known. Run 
along over to the President’s house now and 
tell him you are innocent.” 

272 


A TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT 

i ‘ Will he believe me?” asked Henry doubt- 
fully. 

“Of course he will. I've already told him 
so.” 

“You’re a good friend, Mr. Halsey,” said 
Henry. “I can’t tell you how much I appre- 
ciate your help and support.” 

“Don’t try. Hurry along now or you’ll be 
late.” 

Henry picked up his cap and passing out of 
the door turned to his left towards the stair- 
way at the western end of the hallway. At 
the top of the stairs he found George Dodd 
waiting for him. 

“Henry,” said George quickly, “you know 
you have my permission to tell who did it in 
case you have to.” 

“All right, George,” said Henry with a 
laugh. “You know what the chances are of my 
doing that though.” 

“Seriously,” George insisted. “You’re not 
to take the blame for this affair in any way. 
If some one is to suffer you’re not to be the 
one.” 

“Leave that with me,” said Henry, and 
started down the stairs. 

273 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

He opened the door at the end of the build- 
ing and turned towards The Broad Street on 
which the President’s house faced. There was 
a light shining through the window of the study 
on the ground floor, and a moment later Henry 
lifted the brass knocker and announced his 
presence. President Davies himself answered 
the summons and opening the door ushered 
Henry into his study. A fire of pine knots 
blazed in the fireplace and two large candles 
were burning on the top of the table. 

Cap in hand Henry entered and then he 
stopped short as he recognized the figure of a 
man seated in a chair at one end of the room. 
He turned sharply around. 

44 President Davies,” he said , 4 4 is it necessary 
that Mr. Baldridge be present?” 

4 ‘He is here at my request,” said the Presi- 
dent. 

Henry merely bowed his head slightly and of- 
fered no comment. He stood beside the hearth, 
twirling his cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on 
President Davies. He ignored Mr. Baldridge 
completely. President Davies also remained 
standing. A tall clock in the corner ticked 
274 


A TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT 


loudly and its wooden works whirred and rat- 
tled ; the fire snapped merrily. Otherwise there 
was no sound in the room. 

“Mr. Stirling,” said President Davies finally, 
“you were present at prayers this evening when 
that disgraceful disturbance took place.’ ’ 

“Yes, sir,” said Henry. 

“Do you know who was responsible for it?” 

Henry hesitated a moment. He wondered if 
he was to be asked the names of the conspira- 
tors, and then and there he made a silent vow 
to himself that in his conscious moments he 
never would tell. It was a mean trick to ask 
him anyway, he felt. 

“Yes, sir,” he replied. 

He thought he heard a sound from Mr. Bald- 
ridge’s direction at this, a sound something like 
a chuckle of satisfaction. 

“Were you responsible for it in any way 
yourself?” 

“No, sir,” said Henry promptly. 

“I’m glad to hear it,” said President Davies. 
He turned to Mr. Baldridge. “This straight- 
forward declaration of Mr. Stirling’s will un- 
doubtedly satisfy you that your suspicions were 
unfounded, Mr. Baldridge,” he said. “I know 
275 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

you are as pleased as I am, for Mr. Stirling is 
of the best type of our students, and you and I 
both would have been grieved if in his last year 
he had done anything to spoil the splendid rec- 
ord he is making. Now if you will excuse us I 
should like to have a little talk with Mr. Stir- 
ling alone.’ ’ 

This was a turn of affairs Henry had not ex- 
pected. He blushed crimson, and felt more un- 
comfortable than ever, for praise was one thing 
he did not like. There was something on this 
occasion to make his embarrassment less un- 
pleasant than usual, however. Mr. Baldridge 
was plainly as surprised as Henry at President 
Davies’ words. He rose hurriedly to his feet, 
opened his mouth as if to protest, and then see- 
ing the smiling face of the president, changed 
his mind, and without a word flung himself out 
of the room. The outside door closed behind 
him and President Davies and Henry were left 
alone. 

“I owe you an apology, Mr. Stirling,” said 
President Davies. 

“Not at all, sir,” said Henry. “Everything 
is extremely satisfactory so far as I am con- 
cerned.” 


276 


A TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT 

The president smiled. “You and Mr. Bald- 
ridge are not the warmest of friends, are you?” 
he said. 

“He has never liked me,” Henry replied 
quietly. 

“Nor you him.” 

“No, sir.” 

“He will not bother you again I think,” said 
President Davies. “Provided of course that 
you give him no cause to do so.” 

“You can be assured that I shall not,” said 
Henry earnestly. “I want no more trouble if 
I can help it.” 

“I’m sure of that,” said the President. “I 
have only good reports of you recently and I 
want you to know that I am your friend. I 
shall consider it a compliment if you will come 
to me with your problems and allow me to help 
you solve them . 9 9 

“Thank you, sir,” said Henry. 

President Davies held out his hand. “I hope 
we shall get to know each other better,” he said, 
as Henry started to go. 

“I hope so too,” said Henry. 

He was about to cross the threshold when 
President Davies suddenly turned to him and 
277 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

said, 4 ‘What are you planning to do when you 
graduate ?” 

“Why,” said Henry, “I really haven’t de- 
cided definitely. Sometimes I think I’ll join the 
army, then I decide farming is a fine occupation 
for a gentleman, and again I think I’ll go into 
business with my father.” 

“He is a merchant at Perth Amboy, I be- 
lieve.” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“ Yuu think you would like business?” 

“Not very much; no, sir. But it seems the 
easiest solution of the question and I know 
father would like to have me with him. He 
believes Perth Amboy will be a great port some 
day, he is most enthusiastic about the future 
of the town, and thinks what he has to offer 
me presents a wonderful opportunity.” 

“No doubt he’s right,” said President Da- 
vies. ‘ ‘ Have you ever given serious thought to 
entering the ministry?” 

“Why I’ve thought about it, of course,” said 
Henry. ‘ 4 One cannot very well help it here at 
Nassau Hall where nine out of every ten boys 
seem pointed in that direction. ’ ’ 

‘ 4 It’s a noble profession.” 

278 


A TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT 

“Yes, sir,” said Henry. “Of course it is, 
but it does not seem to me that I am suited to it 
by temperament.” 

“It needs red-blooded young men like you,” 
said President Davies, “and I like to see the 
educated youth of our new country enter the 
professions. The professions usually furnish 
the leaders, and if we get our college boys to 
practice them we are assuring ourselves of the 
right kind of leaders it seems to me. A minis- 
ter’s life is a hard one of course whether he 
have a parish or go out as a missionary. Think 
of our friend David Brainerd, what wonderful 
work he has done. A saint I call him.” 

The President gazed at Henry intently, his 
forehead wrinkled and his eyes peering through 
his bushy brows. Suddenly he pointed his fin- 
ger at him. 

“Why don’t you study law?” he demanded. 

“Do you think I could make a lawyer of my- 
self?” asked Henry with a smile. 

“You can make anything of yourself you 
want,” said President Davies emphatically. 
“That part doesn’t worry me in the least. The 
only trouble with you is you won’t work unless 
you are interested.” 


279 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

“Mr. Halsey got me interested in my college 
work,” said Henry. 

“Perhaps Mr. Blackstone can get you inter- 
ested in law,” observed the President with a 
laugh. “Have you ever read his book?” 

“No, sir.” 

“I’ll loan it to you,” cried President Davies. 
He turned to the book case in one corner of the 
room and brought out a large volume bound in 
leather and handsomely printed. He handed it 
to Henry. ‘ i Take it over to your room and read 
it. It is the story of the English common law, 
one of the finest things to my mind that civiliza- 
tion has yet produced. It is based on the age- 
old freedom of the Anglo-Saxons and if you 
don’t read that book and want to be a lawyer 
I miss my guess. The more I think about it the 
more I believe you are intended for the legal 
profession.” 

“I should like very much to read the book 
anyway,” said Henry. 

“Do, and come and tell me what you think of 
it when you have finished. Good night.” 

He shook Henry’s hand once again, and held 
the door open for him to pass outside. 

“What a curious evening I’ve spent,” mused 
280 


A TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT 


Henry as lie walked the short distance back to 
Nassau Hall. He felt better mentally, however, 
than he had ever felt before. The President of 
the college had actually praised him, told him 
he was the type of boy he was proud of, and he 
had told him he was making a fine record, too. 
Henry could hardly wait to get pen and paper 
and write his father the good news. Busied 
with these thoughts he opened the door at the 
west end of Nassau Hall. As he entered he 
passed Mr. Baldridge, who was coming out. 

Henry murmured an apology and stood aside. 
The steward brushed by without a word. 
Henry started to go in and then he was sud- 
denly seized by an impulse to follow Mr. Bald- 
ridge and see where he went. He put the copy 
of Mr. Blackstone’s book on the ground beside 
the building and followed silently after the 
steward. 


281 


CHAPTER XXIII 


HENRY WEITES A NOTE 

Henry skulked along, Indian fashion, gliding 
silently and swiftly from tree to tree, but al- 
ways keeping the shadowy figure of the steward 
in sight. Mr. Baldridge himself seemed to be 
proceeding stealthily. Every moment or so he 
stopped and looked back as if in fear of being 
followed. He did not discover Henry, however, 
for a friendly Delaware Indian had taught him 
woodcraft when he was a small boy, and one of 
the things he had learned best of all was to 
move silently and unseen. 

Mr. Baldridge came to The Broad Street, 
crossed over and turned to his left. Henry did 
not cross, but kept watch from the opposite side. 
Why he was following the steward he could not 
have told. Some impulse he did not understand 
or try to analyze urged him on. Anyway it was 
a game and he enjoyed it. 

The street was deserted. It was half after 
nine o’clock and nearly all the houses along the 
282 


HENRY WRITES A NOTE 


quiet thoroughfare were dark. Lights showed 
faintly in the second stories of some of them as 
their occupants lighted their way to bed, but 
most people had already retired. Only in the 
inn a hundred yards or so up the street were 
there signs of activity and life. The windows of 
the taproom glowed yellow and sounds of rev- 
elry issued from within. Some one was singing 
a song and as Mr. Baldridge drew near, and 
Henry opposite, the singer finished amid shouts 
of approval. 

Then a strange thing happened. At least it 
was unexpected as far as Henry was concerned. 
He saw Mr. Baldridge stop just before he came 
to the inn, saw him glance all around, seemingly 
hesitate for a moment and then suddenly dart 
into the stable yard. Henry waited several mo- 
ments for him to reappear and finally when 
there was no sign of him decided to investi- 
gate. 

He crossed the road quickly, keeping a sharp 
eye out for any sign of a stray passerby. He 
saw no one and presently found himself in the 
inn yard under the windows of the taproom. 
The noise within seemed to grow louder and 
louder. The songs became more frequent, the 
283 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

jests noisier, the laughter more and more ri- 
bald. Henry clung closely to the side of the 
inn, listening to the voices, wondering if he 
could recognize any of them. His old friend 
Jason Work had been ordered away, but he 
still knew many of the loiterers and ne’er-do- 
wells who frequented the taproom. 

4 ‘ Where were you last night?” he heard 
some one ask. “ You’re going to be fined if 
you’re absent again.” 

“Couldn’t get away.” 

Henry started violently for it was the voice 
of Simeon Baldridge replying to the question. 

“Cooking for your boys, I suppose,” said 
the first speaker. A general laugh greeted this 
remark which plainly was intended to be face- 
tious. 

“Too drunk more likely,” said some one else. 
Shouts of merriment greeted this sally. 

“The old hypocrite,” muttered Henry in as- 
tonishment. His amazement was followed 
quickly by a feeling of joy, for now he was sure 
the steward would never trouble him again. 
This time he had obtained information which 
would cost Mr. Baldridge his place if he cared 
to divulge it. “I’ve got him now,” he mur- 
284 



Henry clung closely to the side of the inn listening to the 

voices 
















HENRY WRITES A NOTE 

mured gleefully to himself. “Once and for 
all.” 

He listened for more conversation and was 
certain beyond the shadow of a doubt that it 
was the steward whose voice he heard. What 
was more, the steward, who always posed as a 
model of virtue, and who had no mercy on stu- 
dents who lapsed from grace seemed from the 
tone of the conversation to be one of the leading 
spirits in the gathering inside. 

“Sing that song you sang last Saturday,” 
some one urged him. 

“Repeat that story about the girl and the 
mouse,” said another. 

So it went. The talk drifting out to Henry’s 
eager ears stamped his old enemy as one of the 
most frequent visitors to the taproom, and one 
of the most popular of the entertainers who 
gravitated to that spot. 

“As a matter of fact I’d like him for it if he 
weren’t such a hypocrite and didn’t always pose 
as being so virtuous,” said Henry to himself. 
“Under the circumstances I believe it’s my duty 
to acquaint him with the fact that I know all 
about his habits.” He chuckled to himself and 
leaving his hiding place under the windows went 
285 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

around to the front and entered. A sleepy col- 
ored boy was the only occupant of the room 
and Henry had some difficulty in making him 
understand what it w T as he wanted. The boy 
partially woke up after several moments, how- 
ever, and brought Henry a sheet of paper, ink 
and a quill pen. 

Henry seized these articles eagerly and seat- 
ing himself at the table where a candle was 
burning wrote as follows : 

“Dear Mr. Baldridge, — 

“I can scarcely express my pleasure at seeing you 
enjoy yourself so thoroughly. It gives me great 
pleasure too to learn that you are a frequent visitor 
here, for I believe it will lead to your taking a dif- 
ferent attitude towards the students under your 
supervision. 

“I remain, sir, 

“Your Devoted Admirer, 

“Henry Stirling. ” 

Henry blew on the ink and waved the sheet 
of paper in the air. When he was convinced 
that the ink was thoroughly dry he folded the 
sheet of paper carefully and holding it in his 
hand rose to his feet. The colored boy mean- 
286 


HENRY WRITES A NOTE 

while had sunk back into a doze on his bench 
by the fireplace. 

Henry unfolded the note and reread it. It 
seemed to afford him great pleasure for he 
chuckled audibly as he folded it again. He im- 
mediately assumed an extremely serious air, 
however, and note in hand started for the tap- 
room. A gust of noise, mixed with tobacco 
smoke and the smell of ale greeted him as he 
pushed open the door. The room seemed to be 
crowded and in the general disorder and confu- 
sion his presence was not noted. He stood 
quietly at the end of the room for a moment to 
get his bearings, and find the person for whom 
he was searching. Presently he spied him. 

Mr. Baldridge was leaning against the bar, 
holding a pipe of tobacco in one hand and a mug 
of ale in the other. Henry walked swiftly down 
the room until he stood directly behind the un- 
suspecting steward. 

“Is Mr. Simeon Baldridge here?” he asked 
in a loud voice. 

Every one in the room ceased talking as 
Henry spoke. The steward started, and turned 
around. When his eyes fell on Henry he nearly 
dropped his pipe and his mug of ale ; his jaw 
287 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


dropped and he stared open-mouthed, too aston- 
ished to speak. 

“Ah, Mr. Baldridge/ ’ exclaimed Henry 
cheerily. ‘ ‘ A note for you. ’ ’ 

He handed the folded paper to the steward, 
turned on his heel and walked out of the room 
without a word being spoken to him. As the 
door of the taproom closed behind him he quick- 
ened his pace and once outdoors he broke into a 
run. A few moments later he had arrived back 
at Nassau Hall, recovered his copy of Black- 
stone and was mounting the stairway to the 
second floor. 

“President Davies said he didn’t believe Mr. 
Baldridge would bother me again,” he ex- 
claimed gleefully to John as he recounted his 
adventures to him. “I guess he won’t either.” 

“Probably not,” laughed John. 

“Provided I ‘give him no cause to do so/ 
was what the president said,” continued Henry. 
“Personally I feel that I have given him cause 
not to do so.” 

“No doubt of it,” said John. “You need 
never worry about old Baldridge again. You 
have put him in his place once and for all.” 

288 


HENRY WRITES A NOTE 


“We mustn’t tell anybody about this evening 
though,” said Henry seriously. “I don’t want 
to make trouble for anybody if I can help it, 
even Baldridge.” 

“Well you know you can trust me,” said 
John. 


269 


CHAPTER XXIV 


HENRY GRADUATES 

Henry gave much thought to President Davies’ 
recommendation that he study law. He talked 
the matter over with Mr. Halsey and found that 
he agreed with the President. Henry read 
Blackstone and was fascinated by it. He got 
all the law books from the library he could find 
and became more and more interested and en- 
thusiastic. On a visit to Perth Amboy he dis- 
cussed with his father the possibility of his be- 
coming a member of the legal profession and 
somewhat to his surprise found his father en- 
tirely favorable to the idea. His friends at 
Nassau Hall approved of it thoroughly. 

“Next to the ministry,” said John, “it is the 
greatest of all professions.” 

“Poetry is nobler than any of them,” ex- 
claimed Hugh. 

“Would you like to have me repeat a poem 
I heard read at supper one night two or three 
years ago?” asked Samuel. 

290 


HENRY GRADUATES 


“I remember that poem,” George Dodd ex- 
claimed, winking at Henry. “ Recite it for us, 
Sam.” 

“Please excuse me if be does,” laughed 
Hugh. “I’m ashamed of that effort 
now . 9 9 

At all events Henry soon made up his mind 
to study law and President Davies arranged 
for him to read with Judge Leonard of Newark 
after he had graduated. The decision made, he 
threw himself into his work with more zest than 
ever and as all his friends and tutors had pro- 
phesied on numerous occasions, he became a 
distinct success as a student. He still had bat- 
tles with himself when the beautiful spring days 
returned to Prince Town, and Nature dressed 
herself in her shimmering green frocks, but he 
did not lose these battles any more. His duty 
was his duty and he always did it. In conse- 
quence his self-respect increased and he was 
held in high esteem by all with whom he came 
in contact. He kept at his work steadily 
through the hot summer and acquitted himself 
with honor when the final examinations were 
held in September before Commencement. How 
well he did is witnessed by the fact that at the 
291 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

Commencement exercises he was chosen to take 
part in one of the debates. 

That was a day long to be remembered. 
Thomas Boone, who had been appointed Gover- 
nor of New Jersey the previous year, was pres- 
ent. The trustees of the College were there of 
course, besides an extremely large gathering of 
other distinguished persons from the adjacent 
towns and provinces. As to what happened 
perhaps it is just as well to let one of the news- 
papers which published an account of the pro- 
ceedings tell the story. The following report 
therefore is taken from the “ Pennsylvania Ga- 
zette” of October 9, 1760. 

“ Prince Town, Nassau Hall, September 25, 
1760. Yesterday the Anniversary Commence- 
ment of the College was held here. The Pro- 
cession of the Trustees and candidates from the 
President’s House to Nassau Hall began at 
the Ringing of the Bell precisely at 10 o’clock 
in the forenoon. The Order was, The Candi- 
dates for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts first, 
two and two, uncovered ; the Candidates for the 
Degree of Master of Arts followed next un- 
covered; and the Trustees, according to their 
Seniority, the youngest first, and the Governor 
292 


HENRY GRADUATES 

and President last, concluded. When the Can- 
didates arrived at the steps of the Middle En- 
trance into the hall they stopt, and the whole 
Procession divided itself equally on each side 
of the gravel Walk, and entered in an inverted 
Order. The Collegiate Exercises began with a 
handsome Salutatory Oration in Latin, pro- 
nounced by Mr. Thomas Spencer; then followed 
a Latin Syllogistick Dispute, wherein the Re- 
spondent held that ‘ Ser mo primitus ab Inspira- 
tions divina Originem duxit,’ which was well 
maintained and opposed. When this was con- 
cluded, Mr. Hugh Harris arose, and in a very 
sprightly and entertaining Manner delivered 
an ingenious English Harangue in Praise of 
Oratory. Then succeeded a Forensick Dispute in 
English, in which it was held that ‘ The Elegance 
of an Oration much consists in the Words being 
consonant to the Sense.’ The Respondent Mr. 
Henry Stirling acquitted himself with univer- 
sal applause in the elegant Composition and De- 
livery of his Defence; and his Opponent an- 
swered him with Humor and Pertinency. This 
was succeeded by a Latin Dispute in a Socra- 
tick Way, in which the Respondent affirmed 
that ‘Systema Ethicce perfectum in prcesenti 
293 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

Hominum Conditione sine Ope divines Revela- 
tionis, construi nequit and by a well-composed 
Valedictory Oration in English by Mr. John 
Ayres. The Singing of an Ode on Science, 
composed by the President of the College, con- 
cluded the Forenoon Exercises. 

“The Entertainment in the Afternoon began 
with the Address to His Excellency the Gover- 
nor by Mr. Stockton in the Name of the Trus- 
tees. After which the Candidates for the Mas- 
ter’s Degree disputed in Latin the following 
Question: ‘An Rector civilis ullam , in Rebus 
Fidei, Potestatem habeat / and ‘Nonne absur- 
dum est Deum immutabilem precari,’ which 
were learnedly defended and ingeniously op- 
posed. The President then descended from the 
Rostrum, and with the usual Formalities con- 
ferred the Degrees of the Bachelor of Arts and 
Master of Arts. 

“Mr. Joseph Treat, one of the Masters of 
Arts and a Tutor in the College, then ascended, 
and delivered an elegant, pathetic Valedictory 
Oration in English, in the Close of which he 
very handsomely touched upon the present 
flourishing State of our Public Affairs in North 
America. The Singing of an Ode on Peace corn- 
294 


HENRY GRADUATES 


posed by the President concluded the whole, to 
the Universal Pleasure and Satisfaction of a 
numerous Auditory. ’ ’ 

Thus Henry’s college career came to an end. 
He had finished well and it is the finish that 
counts. The finish would have been reached 
more easily no doubt if he had kept up as he had 
gone along and not placed his reliance on a 
well-timed spurt to make up the lost ground; 
Henry realized this, but he could well feel that 
his college career had been successful. Even 
Simeon Baldridge told him so. 

“Mr. Stirling,” he said, “you have done well. 
Now that you are leaving I want you to know 
that I shall miss you. We have had our tiffs, 
but I have always felt, and feel now, that given 
half a chance we should have been wonderful 
friends.” 

Henry thought so too. The morning follow- 
ing Henry’s discovery of Mr. Baldridge in the 
taproom the steward had come to him and they 
had had a long talk, a talk which made Henry 
understand many things he had had no ideas 
about before. Mr. Baldridge appeared in an 
entirely new and favorable light and Henry for 
295 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 


the first time regretted the animosity he had 
displayed towards the steward, and the delight 
he had experienced in seeing him in trouble. 
So it usually happens in this life. Nine times 
out of ten if we dislike people it is because we 
do not know them. There are many good qual- 
ities in everybody if we take the trouble to dis- 
cover what they are. The way to do this is by 
getting to know the people themselves. Mean- 
while we should make allowances for seeming 
faults. Henry realized the justice and truth of 
this fact after his talk with Mr. Baldridge and 
swore to himself that from that time on he 
would judge no one harshly until he was abso- 
lutely sure of his ground. 

“Even then I’d probably be wrong,” he said 
to himself. 

Henry and his intimate friends wound up 
their college careers with a dinner at the inn. 
Besides Henry there were present Hugh Har- 
ris, George Dodd, John Ayres, Thomas Spen- 
cer, Samuel Pierson, Ezra Whitaker and, as a 
specially invited guest, Mr. Halsey. Old times 
were gone over, and plans for the future dis- 
cussed. One thing they promised one another, 
296 


HENRY GRADUATES 


and that was that God willing they would re- 
turn to Nassau Hall for Commencement once 
in every five years and renew their friendships 
in person. 

“A friend,” said Henry, “and believe me I 
do not mean to be sentimental, is the dearest 
possession a man can have. There is no greater 
compliment than to have some one want you as 
a friend. All of us here want one another as 
friends and therefore we are all the recipients 
of great compliments. Let us show our appre- 
ciation by every one of us striving to be worthy 
of them, and further to live up to the letter of 
our promises by returning here to Nassau Hall 
once in every five years.” 

He raised his glass. 

“Gentlemen, I give you Nassau Hall.” 

With one accord every one sprang to his feet. 
They drank the toast in silence and sat down. 
For several moments no one spoke, for lumps 
seemed to have formed in their throats which 
interfered with speech, and every eye was 
misty. It was the end, and the fact that they 
must part came home to them with full force 
now. Finally John spoke. 

“Henry,” he said, “I have been thinking over 

297 


A PRINCETON BOY UNDER THE KING 

what you said about a friend being the dearest 
possession a man can have. I agree with those 
sentiments and I hate the idea of losing my 
friends. To-morrow we part.’ ’ 

“Does that mean you will lose your friends f ’ ’ 
asked Henry. 

“We shall not see one another except at long 
intervals.” 

“John,” said Henry, “I look at the matter 
this way. If I have a real friend I propose to 
keep him. A separation cannot take him from 
me, neither can the lapse of time. Once a friend 
always a friend is my motto.” 

“Hear, hear,” cried Mr. Halsey. 

Hugh sprang to his feet his glass held aloft. 

“Gentlemen,” he exclaimed, “I wish to pro- 
pose a toast.” 

Applause greeted him. 

“I give you Henry Stirling,” he continued, 
“a true gentleman, and a true friend.” 


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